Champion jockey Murphy on his alcohol battle

Champion jockey Oisin Murphy has spoken of the difficulties with alcohol that led to him being fined £70,000 for drink driving after he crashed a car into a tree.

Murphy was arrested after the Mercedes A Class left the road in Hermitage, Berkshire, in April and he was banned from driving in July.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme how his busy and successful life can appear "rose-tinted" and that he has given up drinking alcohol.

"I tried over the past number of years to drink like a normal person," he said. "I had to give up trying [to drink normally] because it was impossible for me and maybe some of your listeners will realise that, no matter how people try, they have to admit defeat".

The 30-year-old added: "That was a big stepping stone, a milestone, for me and it's an everyday process I have to work on."

He had a passenger with him at the time of the crash, Reading Magistrates' Court heard in the summer. They were both taken to hospital afterwards.

Murphy was later discharged to take a breathalyser test at a police station that showed a reading of 66mg per 100 millilitres of breath - just under twice the legal limit.

He added: "When someone makes a decision to drive a car while drunk they can kill themselves and others and that was an extreme time and had consequences.

"You don't get many chances at life and I have another chance now and this year has been great. I have had lots of big days in the saddle and lots of happy days outside racing as well.

"The only way to achieve them and be proud of the person I am trying to be [is] by staying sober."

Murphy, who grew up in Killarney, County Kerry, and now lives in Lambourn, has been crowned UK champion jockey five times - in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024 and 2025.

"People have seen me riding winners most days. I have a good life, travelling around the world, often on private flights, helicoptering here and there," he added.

"But it's rose-tinted because behind the scenes there can be great turmoil. Any sportsperson realises before they ever get involved that there are going to be good and bad days."

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