Oisin Murphy has been banned from race riding until February 2023. Murphy pleaded guilty to all 5 charges brought against him by the BHA. It is always sad to see a person of talent fall, and personally I feel sorry for him. However there's little doubt he was guilty and knew it. This will cause a huge headache for his main retainers: those being Qatar Racing and the Balding stable. I've little doubt that Kingsclere will stand by him but it does offer huge opportunities to the posse of jockeys Balding has amassed at Park House Stables. Chief amongst these is David Probert, but Rob Hornby must also be a candidate for more rides (though he does have his association with Beckett). Jason Watson may also pick up much needed rides. Here are the comments made by the chair of the disciplinary committee. '' He's a young man, a brilliant jockey and a superb horseman and we're not here to criticise you for the sake of it, but to explain our reasons and apply the rules. But, however affected by fiction that you may have been, we conclude you thought you were above the rules and the law. And however high you are, you are not above them. They apply to all.''
I would like to understand more about why he got addicted to alcohol - I wonder whether it was linked to the age-old problem of wasting that flat jockeys continue to fight?
Do we actually think he is addicted or he's just a young lad who likes a drink and is a bit irresponsible when it comes to his job. It's easy for them to say he has an issue and is seeking help when it's in mitigation to disciplinary proceedings.
Reading his statement he admits to having a problem with alcohol Smokey - as you say, that may be contrived to help his Defence.
I think Smokey is right. When he was younger he rubbed a certain Kieran Fallon up the wrong way. He has a side to his character which spoils the talent he has. He needs to face up to that and sort it out. He is a huge talent though and I'm sure with the help of people like Balding he can turn his life around.
Unfortunately the horse racing industry seems to turn a blind eye until something bad happens. You then get loads of mental health advice from people like bookmakers.
