Oisin Murphy, the four-time champion flat rider, missed Sunday’s racing at Southwell due to an automobile accident. Murphy, 29, is thought to have been riding at Leicester Racecourse on Saturday for hours before the collision. He was in an accident, but his representative confirmed on Monday that he was “fine.” According to a report by the British Horseracing Authority’s stewards, he has missed four rides at Southwell because of “travel issues.” Murphy, however, returned to Windsor’s circuit on Monday, starting the British Stallion Studs EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes aboard 13-8 favorite Sea Founder. Gavin Horne, his agent, told The Mirror prior to the first race at 4:25 p.m.: “All I know is Oisin had a car accident and that is it. He is fine and racing tonight.”
Many consider 29-year-old Murphy to be one of the best jockeys in the weighing room. With 33 victories at a pace of one winner for every four rides, he has been riding out of his skin so far this season. He has faced challenges outside of the sport, meanwhile, and stated last year that therapy had been very beneficial. He won his fourth championship last year, the Champion Jockey Trophy, after serving a 14-month suspension in March 2023 for violating COVID-19 regulations and failing two alcohol breathalyzer tests at racetracks. Murphy is currently Sheikh Fahad Al-Thani’s Qatar Racing’s retained jockey, but as the organization is struggling financially, he is free to ride as Andrew Balding’s first jockey. He will be in a good position to defend his title when the ‘season’ starts on Saturday.
