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Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Oisin Murphy book to provide 'searingly honest' account of life and career
Oisin Murphy has revealed his first book which vows to deliver a 'searingly honest' insight into his racing career. The 29-year-old has cemented his position as one of Europe's premier jockeys and in Britain is poised to secure the Flat jockeys' championship for the fifth time. Alongside notching up more than 1,700 victories, achieving two British Classic triumphs plus capturing the Japan Cup and Breeders' Cup Distaff, he has battled through numerous obstacles during his journey. He faced a three-month suspension in 2020 following a positive cocaine test in France, which he attributed to contamination through intimate contact with an occasional drug user. In 2021, he surrendered his licence after disclosing he was facing disciplinary proceedings for violating Covid travel rules and two failed breath tests, resulting in a ban until February 2023. In his most recent controversy he received a £70,000 fine and a 20-month driving prohibition at Reading Magistrates after registering nearly double the legal alcohol threshold in a breath test conducted almost seven hours following his arrest after a collision where his vehicle struck a tree. His criminal conviction will not appear in Murphy's memoir which was penned during the 2024 Flat season, reports the Mirror. Revealing the announcement Murphy shared: "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." Titled 'Sacrifice: A Year in the Life of a Champion Jockey', it's set to hit the shelves on 9 October, with publishers Penguin promising "a gripping and searingly honest account of a year in the turbulent life of a professional jockey, from four-time champion Oisin Murphy". The blurb continues, "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. "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."
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Oisin Murphy announces first book promising ‘searingly honest' account of life in saddle
The four-time champion jockey's autobiography entitled Sacrifice: A Year In The Life of a Champion Jockey, was written during 2024 and will be published in October Oisin Murphy has announced his first book which promises to provide a 'searingly honest' account of his life in the saddle. The 29-year-old has established himself as one of Europe's top jockeys and in Britain is well on his way to clinching the Flat jockeys' championship for the fifth time. As well as riding more than 1,700 winners, recording two British Classic successes as well as landing the Japan Cup and Breeders' Cup Distaff, he has overcome a number of setbacks along the way. He was banned for three months in 2020 after testing positive for cocaine in France which he blamed on contamination from sex with an occasional drug user. In 2021 he relinquished his licence after he revealed he faced disciplinary charges for breaching Covid travel protocols and two failed breath tests, for which he was banned until February 2023. In the most recent incident he was fined £70,000 and banned from driving for 20 months at Reading Magistrates after being almost twice over the legal alcohol limit in a breath test taken nearly seven hours after his arrest following a crash in which the car he was driving hit a tree. His criminal conviction is not set to feature in Murphy's autobiography which was completed during the 2024 Flat season. Announcing the news Murphy posted: '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.' Entitled 'Sacrifice: A Year in the Life of a Champion Jockey', it will be published on October 9 with publishers Penguin promising, 'a gripping and searingly honest account of a year in the turbulent life of a professional jockey, from four-time champion Oisin Murphy'. It goes on, '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. '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.'
Hindustan Times
03-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Kentucky Derby: All on Sovereignty's jockey Junior Alvarado, trainer and owner
Sovereignty won the 2025 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, securing a $3.1 million prize from the $5 million purse. The racehorse beat the favorite Journalism in the last stretch. Ridden by jockey Junior Alvarado, Sovereignty is trained by William I. Mott, and owned by Godolphin. Wilmer Alexander Alvarado, popularly known as Junior Alvarado, was born in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. The 38-year-old's father was a jockey, as per Blood-Horse. Alvardo moved to the US in 2007 and started off on Florida tracks like Calder Race Course, per Equibase. Over 2,200 wins and $114 million in purse earnings as of 2025, per Equibase. Notable wins include the 2021 Preakness Stakes (Rombauer), 2019 Breeders' Cup Distaff (Blue Prize), and 2018 Manhattan Stakes (Spring Quality), per Blood-Horse. First jockey to win six races on a single card at Saratoga (August 2012), per NYRA. 2025 Derby was his first Kentucky Derby win in nine attempts, with a best prior finish of sixth (Mohaymen, 2016). Post-race, Alvarado told NBC Sports: 'This is a dream come true. Sovereignty gave me everything, and I just guided him home.' Born in South Dakota, William I. Mott started training at the age of 15. The 71-year-old worked for his father, who was a veterinarian. Mott moved to Kentucky in the 1970s, training for owners like Bert and Diana Firestone. Hall of Fame inductee (1998, age 45), one of the youngest trainers honored, per the National Museum of Racing. Over 5,600 wins and $340 million in earnings as of 2025, per Equibase. Mott told the Courier-Journal post-race: 'Sovereignty showed his heart today. This win means everything after so many close calls.' Founded in 1992 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, Godolphin has major stables in Dubai, the US, Europe, and Australia
Hindustan Times
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Kentucky Derby 2025: Thorpedo Anna, reigning Horse of the Year, to visit clinic after surprise loss at Churchill Downs
Thorpedo Anna is headed for a checkup at a veterinary clinic after the reigning Horse of the Year finished a surprising seventh in her return to Churchill Downs. She was jostled in between horses in a race to the first turn and began to fade by the top of the stretch in Friday's $1 million La Troienne for fillies and mares. She was coming off a victory in the Apple Blossom Handicap on April 12 in Arkansas. 'The first turn incident may have thrown her off her game, or maybe the 3 week turnaround wasn't my best choice,' trainer Ken McPeek posted Saturday on X. 'She showed no signs she couldn't handle that. I'm more critical of myself than anyone. Regardless, she won't be rushed back soon.' McPeek said Thorpedo Anna was walking well on Saturday. She will have X-rays on her knees and ankles and then be sent to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington for further examination. Raging Sea won the La Troienne by three-quarters of a length in her first start since finishing second to Thorpedo Anna in the Breeders' Cup Distaff last year. Thorpedo Anna won last year's Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs and finished the year with six wins in seven starts. Her only loss came against male horses in the Travers, where she was second. Now a 4-year-old, she opened this year with wins in the Azeri Stakes and Apple Blossom Handicap. She has won 10 of 13 career starts and has over $4 million in earnings.
03-05-2025
- Sport
Thorpedo Anna, reigning Horse of the Year, to visit clinic after surprise loss
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Thorpedo Anna is headed for a checkup at a veterinary clinic after the reigning Horse of the Year finished a surprising seventh in her return to Churchill Downs. She was jostled in between horses in a race to the first turn and began to fade by the top of the stretch in Friday's $1 million La Troienne for fillies and mares. She was coming off a victory in the Apple Blossom Handicap on April 12 in Arkansas. 'The first turn incident may have thrown her off her game, or maybe the 3 week turnaround wasn't my best choice,' trainer Ken McPeek posted Saturday on X. 'She showed no signs she couldn't handle that. I'm more critical of myself than anyone. Regardless, she won't be rushed back soon.' McPeek said Thorpedo Anna was walking well on Saturday. She will have X-rays on her knees and ankles and then be sent to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington for further examination. Raging Sea won the La Troienne by three-quarters of a length in her first start since finishing second to Thorpedo Anna in the Breeders' Cup Distaff last year. Thorpedo Anna won last year's Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs and finished the year with six wins in seven starts. Her only loss came against male horses in the Travers, where she was second. Now a 4-year-old, she opened this year with wins in the Azeri Stakes and Apple Blossom Handicap. She has won 10 of 13 career starts and has over $4 million in earnings.
