Oisin Murphy to face NO disciplinary action from BHA over drink-driving conviction

Oisin Murphy will not face any disciplinary action from the British Horseracing Authority following his drink-driving conviction. The four-time champion Flat jockey was last week fined £70,000 and banned from driving for 20 months after being almost twice over the legal alcohol limit in a breath test taken nearly seven hours after his arrest.

The 29-year-old appeared at Reading magistrates court as a result of his involvement in a serious road traffic collision in Hermitage, West Berkshire in April this year in which a grey Mercedes A Class car he was driving left the road and crashed into a tree. His female passenger was injured and taken to hospital.

Murphy pleaded guilty and apologised for the offence saying his actions were “unacceptable and there is no excuse for what I did. I have let a lot of people down. I particularly want to apologise to my passenger and her family.”

After Murphy completed a 14-month ban for breaking Covid rules and for two alcohol breaches in 2022, special conditions were imposed on his licence that he must ‘remain sober’. No other details were shared publicly by the BHA.

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The BHA on Friday announced in the wake of the conviction Murphy licence conditions had been updated to include “an extremely strict set of conditions and monitoring requirements” which became effective immediately “must be adhered to at all times”.

He will not however face any disciplinary action as he did not breach the rules of racing. Murphy has not ridden a winner since his court appearance and after six more losers at Newmarket on Friday his losing streak has extended to 28 races.

A BHA statement said: “The revised conditions have been designed to balance the need to maintain the safety, integrity and good reputation of British racing, with ensuring that Mr Murphy has access to the appropriate support and advice so that he meets the sport’s expectations.

“BHA licensing matters and the precise details of any conditions that may be placed on an individual’s licence are a private and confidential matter between that person and the regulator.

“However, we can confirm that Mr Murphy will be subject to stringent conditions, including detailed and strict procedures relating to further enhanced testing, both on and off the racecourse.

“Mr Murphy must also engage regularly and proactively with the BHA. In addition he must alert us, within a clearly stipulated timeframe, to any change in his personal circumstances that could reasonably be said to be relevant to his position as a licensed jockey.”

The BHA added both the conditions and Murphy’s compliance will be subject to “careful monitoring and regular review”, also warning it reserves “the right to seek the immediate suspension or withdrawal of Mr Murphy’s licence” if those conditions are not met.

The statement added: “As emphasised in our statement of last week, Mr Murphy’s conduct has fallen well below the standards expected of licensed individuals. His actions – for which he has since apologised – jeopardised not only his safety, but that of his passenger and other members of the public.

“Mr Murphy, like all licensed personnel, is expected to uphold the good reputation of our sport on and off the racecourse. He has been reminded of his responsibility. The conditions now in place are designed to help ensure that he meets the high standards that British racing demands.”