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Murphy Relinquishing Licence To Focus On Rehabilitation

Treble British champion jockey Oisin Murphy has temporarily relinquished his licence while he seeks medical help following two positive tests for alcohol on the racecourse during 2021 and a breach of Covid protocols during the previous season.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) issued a statement on Murphy's behalf on Thursday which read, “On returning from abroad last September in 2020 I failed to follow the Covid protocol set out by the BHA. In breaking these rules, and attempting to mislead the BHA, I've let my governing body down, along with trainers, owners, staff, sponsors and family for which I wish to apologise.

“In addition to this there have been two racecourse incidents linked to alcohol during 2021. It became obvious to me and to everyone else that I needed to seek serious help. In recognition of this I have relinquished my licence and will now focus on my rehabilitation.”

Murphy, 26, is the retained first jockey for Sheikh Fahad Al Thani's Qatar Racing. He has ridden 183 winners in Britain this year, and recently partnered the Japanese-trained Marche Lorraine (Jpn) to glory in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar. However, the previous month he had been stood down at Newmarket after failing a breath test on a day when he should have been riding Qatar Racing's Mise En Scene (GB) (Siyouni {FR}) in the G1 Fillies' Mile. He also failed an alcohol test at Chester in May 2021.

Having been made aware of potential breach of Covid travel protocols in September 2020, the BHA launched an investigation which led to charges being brought against the jockey for misleading or attempting to mislead the BHA, accessing the racecourse in breach of Covid rules, and acting in a manner prejudicial to the proper conduct and good reputation of horseracing.

A planned hearing into these charges on Dec. 10 was postponed after Murphy's legal team submitted medical evidence regarding his welfare and the jockey stated his intent to hand in his licence while he sought medical support.

“In regulating the sport we must always strike the balance between the importance of upholding the rules, and being mindful of the wellbeing of those who we regulate. The welfare of our participants is an absolute priority,” said Tim Naylor, the BHA's Director of Integrity and Regulation.

“Having received detailed submissions from his representatives, which were supported by medical evidence, and being aware of the decision made by Mr Murphy to relinquish his jockeys licence, we agreed that the proposed disciplinary hearing may be postponed for a short period of time.”

The charges, along with the two alcohol-related rule breaches, will now be heard by an independent disciplinary panel in the early part of 2022.

Murphy added, “I am grateful to the BHA for agreeing to postpone the disciplinary hearing until I have been able to take these steps. Whether I deserve it or not, many kind people have stood by me and I really appreciate their support. I'm deeply embarrassed and regret my actions.”

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Prize-Money Boost For Irish Guineas Festival

The Tattersalls Irish 2000 and 1000 Guineas and the Tattersalls Gold Cup will all receive significant prize-money hikes for 2022. The two Classics will be raised from €400,000 to €500,000, while the purse for the Gold Cup has also been raised by €100,000 to €400,000. The three Group 1 contests are set to be run at the Curragh's three-day Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival from Friday, May 20 to Sunday, May 22.

“The Curragh has had a long and successful partnership with Tattersalls who have been sponsors with us since 1984,” said Curragh Racecourse chief executive Brian Kavanagh. “We are delighted that they have agreed to continue their sponsorship and increase their support in 2022–it is greatly appreciated within Irish racing. The Guineas meeting is the start of the Classic season in Ireland and it is important that our Group 1 Races offer prize-money which is attractive to the best horses and on a par with our international equivalents. With the support of Tattersalls and Horse Racing Ireland, the Curragh is committed to doing that. Next year the Guineas Festival will be a three-day meeting and the team at the Curragh are working on some exciting plans for the event which will be announced in the new year.”

Champion 2-year-old Native Trial (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) currently heads the list for the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas, while Group 1 winners Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Tenebrism (Caravaggio) feature among a strong fillies' entry. The second entry stage for both Classics is on April 6.

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony, said, “To see the prize-money for all three Tattersalls-sponsored Group 1 races at the Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival increase by a total of €300,000 is fantastic news for Irish racing and reflects the status of the Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival as one of the most prestigious race meetings in the European calendar. The Tattersalls sponsorship of these three great races demonstrates our continued commitment to Irish racing and we are already looking forward to three competitive races which will without doubt be amongst the highlights of our global race sponsorship portfolio.”

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Numbers Limited For Irish Stallion Trail

Next year's Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM) Irish Stallion Trail will be open only to breeders and those directly involved in the breeding industry owing to ongoing concerns over rising Covid-19 infections.

More than 25 stallion farms are planning to open their doors on Friday, Jan. 14 and Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. In previous years the trail has been open to racing fans and members of the public. Those who have already registered will unfortunately no longer be able to attend.

Visitors wishing to attend the trail will need to register via the ITM website, stating which studs they would like to visit. All visitors will have to comply with a Covid-19 code of conduct developed by Horse Racing Ireland Health and Safety and available on the ITM website.

Due to high demand, it is mandatory to register for a specific date and time slot to visit Coolmore Stud. Visitors to Coolmore Stud will also be required to show a valid Covid Certificate.

“We are pleased that the ITM Irish Stallion Trail is able to go ahead this January, but feel it is in the best interests of farms and public health to limit attendance to the breeding industry,” said Charles O'Neill of ITM.

“Irish stallion farms stand some of the most successful sires on the planet and make a significant contribution to the Irish economy. While we are keen to promote Irish thoroughbred breeding to a broad audience through the trail, we recognise our responsibility to minimise risk to farms ahead of the covering season and do what is right regarding public health.”

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David Elsworth Retires From Training

David Elsworth, one of the greatest dual-purpose trainers of all time, has announced that he will not renew his licence next year, and thus retires after more than six decades in the sport. The news was first reported by Racing Post.

Elsworth's name will forever be entwined with two of the most beloved horses of the modern era, the legendary steeplechaser Desert Orchid (GB) and the hugely popular stayer Persian Punch (Ire), and in his handling of these two durable stars Elsworth demonstrated both his innate horsemanship and versatility as a trainer.

“If you go to a party, there is a time to go home,” said Elsworth on Wednesday. “I'm not upset or downhearted about anything. It is just time to move on. I've had a great time.”

The trainer, who turned 82 earlier this week, was last month awarded the Cartier Award of Merit, marking an extraordinarily successful career which began with him riding over jumps between 1957 and 1972 before taking out his licence to train in 1978.

Among the top-class horses to have emanated from his stable was In The Groove (GB), who won the Irish G1 1000 Guineas in 1990, making Elsworth one of the few trainers to have trained a Classic winner as well as a Grand National winner. In The Groove also won the G1 Juddmonte International S. and beat Linamix (Fr) in the G1 Champion S. during her high-flying 3-year-old season, as well as returning at four to win the G1 Coronation Cup.

While the great grey 'Dessie' will always rank as Elsworth's greatest jumping star, with his emotional victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup as well as four King George VI Chase victories and an Irish Grand National triumph, the Grand National was secured with Rhyme 'N Reason (GB) in 1988, while Barnbrook Again (GB) landed back-to-back runnings of the Queen Mother Champion Chase in the following two seasons.

“I've progressed over the years and we have had a degree of success, for which I feel very fortunate, and we have been associated with some good horses,” he said with some understatement.

“It creeps up on you. You are just doing your job and doing what you enjoy and when you win, it's good. I've been very grateful and lucky. I feel very fortunate to have been doing this for a long time.”

An early star who exemplified Elsworth's range of skills was Heighlin (GB), who won Cheltenham's Triumph Hurdle and the Ascot S. at Royal Ascot in 1980 before also landing the Goodwood Cup two years later.

Following Elsworth's move from his long tenure at Whitsbury in Hampshire to Newmarket's Egerton House Stables in 2006, the biggest name to emerge from his yard was Arabian Queen (Ire), who defeated Derby winner Golden Horn (GB) in the 2015 Juddmonte International for owner/breeder Jeff Smith, a long-term friend and patron of the trainer. Smith's colours were also carried by the 20-time winner Persian Punch, whose major victories included two Goodwood Cups and the Doncaster Cup.

Elsworth's most recent group-race success came with Sir Dancealot (Ire), whose four Group 2 wins included the Park S. and Lennox S. of 2019, the year in which the trainer also sent out Dandhu (Ire) to win the G3 Fred Darling S.

Paying tribute to his staff, who have included Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Employee of the Year Peter Maughan, his former long-time head lad Rodney Boult, and former assistants Jeannie Brown and Paul Holley (who also rode for him over jumps for many years, including guiding Oh So Risky (GB) to victory in the 1991 Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival), he said, “If you are a footballer, you need to be on a good team and racing is a team effort as well. I was surrounded by lots of people who were with me and they shared the ambitions and the hopes, and the success we had. I may have been at the helm, but you don't get to be a successful racehorse trainer unless you are surrounded by good horses and good people. I have had them in abundance over the years and I have been very lucky.”

He added, “I feel I've been a very, very lucky man that I've been doing a job all my life and it has not been a job. It's a sport really, and I have been a participant in various ways.”

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