Irish jockey ace promises ‘searing honesty' as he announces release date for access all areas book
MURPH'S LAW Irish jockey ace promises 'searing honesty' as he announces release date for access all areas book
OISIN Murphy has promised to give "access, honesty and insight" into life as a top-class jockey in his upcoming book.
Entitled Sacrifice: A Year in the Life of a Champion Jockey, it will hit bookshelves on October 9.
2
He's previously been Champion Jockey in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2024
Credit: @oismurphy
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He looks set to add a fifth title to his name this year
Credit: Getty
The book will chronicle his 2024 Flat season where he claimed the Champion Jockey title for a fourth time on the back of winning three Group 1 races as well as four outings at Royal Ascot.
The Kerry native posted on X: "It's great to reveal that I have a book coming out this October.
"I was writing this through 2024 and wanted to share my passion for racing and horses and what a year in the life of a jockey looks like.
"This will give readers a level of access, honesty and insight and I hope it shows what my fellow jockeys and I go through each season. Pre-order links here."
It'll be produced by Penguin with the British giant providing an even more detailed description of what racing fans can expect.
The publisher laid out: "A searingly honest account of a year in the turbulent life of a professional jockey, from four-time champion Oisin Murphy.
"Born prematurely, weighing less than a bag of sugar, Oisin Murphy's life has always been one of struggle.
"From a young age he found communion with horses. Mesmerised by their power, their spirit, he discovered a gift for the saddle.
"Oisin quickly established himself as one of horseracing's most prodigious talents. But reaching the pinnacle of the sport has required a high-wire dance that continues to push his body and mind to their breaking point. Despite four champion jockey crowns, alcohol addiction lurks beneath the surface, and a string of misdemeanours have overshadowed his racing.
"Fast paced and searingly honest, Sacrifice lays bare Oisin's personal struggles and immerses readers in the daily life of a jockey throughout an entire season.
Top owner removes Hollie Doyle from all rides with immediate effect and replaces her with Oisin Murphy
"From the countless unseen hours of horse work to the psychological turmoil of racing, the private agony of wasting, and the vital community of the weighing room, it pulls back the curtain and examines the fine line between elite performance and personal destruction in a sport that demands nothing less than total obsession."
Along with plenty of successes and adulation, the 29-year-old's career in the saddle has seen no shortage of controversy.
In 2020 he was hit with a three-month ban after testing positive for cocaine while competing in France. He blamed that result on a sexual encounter with an occasional user of the substance.
A year later he was banned from the sport for 14 months due to breaching Covid protocols in addition to failing two breath tests.
Lastly, in July of this year he plead guilty to drink-driving for which he was banned from the roads for a period of 20 months and fined £70,000.
2025 OUTLOOK
He's currently well-placed in his effort to be named Champion Jockey for a fifth time as he leads the standings ahead of Billy Loughnane and Daniel Tudhope.
His prospects were further boosted on Monday when high-profile owner Imad Alsagar replaced Hollie Doyle with him as the derby-winner's retained rider.
Doyle, reacting to the news in her At The Races blog, said: "It came as a bit of a shock, particularly at this stage of the season.
"I've been a part of Imad's operation for five years, riding 38 winners including at the highest of levels.
"We've enjoyed numerous stakes winners, a Royal Ascot winner and a Classic winner with the wonderful Nashwa in the Prix de Diane in 2022, followed by two further Group 1 successes.
"I have nothing but the utmost respect for Imad and would like to thank him for giving me such an amazing opportunity at a formative stage of my career. I wish him and the team the very best of luck in the future."
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