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Former Champion Oisin Murphy Back In Winner’s Circle After 14-Month Ban: ‘Hopefully…I Can Prove The Person I’d Like To Be’

Former champion jockey Oisin Murphy, who was banned for 14 months by the British Horseracing Authority for COVID and alcohol-related breaches, made a successful return to the saddle on Thursday, Feb. 16.

Murphy piloted the Mick Appleby-trained Jupiter Express to victory in a six-furlong handicap at Chelmsford Racecourse, reports Racing Post.

Murphy's first big-race rides since his suspension are expected to come on the Saudi Cup card: he has been named to ride Royal Ascot winner Missed The Cut in the Neom Turf Cup.

At the end of 2021, following a season that saw him crowned champion jockey for a third straight year, Murphy relinquished his license voluntarily in order to focus on his rehabilitation. He was sentenced to a 14-month ban after a BHA disciplinary hearing on Feb. 22, 2022. During his ban, Murphy was open about his struggles with alcoholism and often served as a racing analyst on live broadcasts during major race meets.

“Realistically it was very silly and I made many, many errors that I wish I hadn't done. I was given a period time to think about that and come back with a different mindset, hopefully over the next year and the following years I can prove the person I'd like to be.”

The British Horseracing Authority released Tuesday a set of conditions to which Murphy will be subject in order to retain his license.

“While the full conditions will not be made public, they include the need for Mr. Murphy to remain sober and avoid the use of any illicit substances or social drugs,” the BHA statement explains. “To monitor this, Mr. Murphy will be subject to an enhanced testing regime both on the racecourse, and through the providing of hair samples for analysis at random times of the BHA's choosing.

“Mr. Murphy must also engage in regular contact, through his own medical professionals, with (BHA's Chief Medical Advisor) Dr. Jerry Hill to ensure his ongoing fitness to ride. These conditions will be reviewed after 12 months, as well as being subject to alteration or amendment should the BHA consider this necessary during the course of his license.

“The BHA is grateful for Mr. Murphy's professional approach during what has been an extensive process and wishes him well both on his return to racing and with regards to his personal wellbeing.”

The BHA retains the right to suspend Murphy's license if any of the conditions are not met.

Trainer Brian Lynch ‘Playing A Little Catch-Up’ With Big Championship Meet At Gulfstream

Trainer Brian Lynch's highly successful Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park continued Friday when Grace Darling graduated in style while making her U.S. debut in Race 5, a 7 ½-furlong maiden special weight race for 3-year-old fillies on turf for an $84,000 purse.

William Werner's Grace Darling, an Irish-bred daughter of Kingman, was Lynch's 10th winner from just 31 starters thus far during the Championship Meet.

“We had no turf at Churchill through the fall, so I'm good at sitting on horses and getting them fresh,” said Lynch, who saddled four winners from just 15 starters at the fall meeting in Louisville. “I'm just playing a little catch-up.”

Lynch, of course, has been a force at Gulfstream every season, especially in races on turf.

Grace Darling ($8.80) raced well off the pace while saving ground. She kicked in through the stretch, darting through a tight opening between horses and pulled away to an impressive score.

“She's a very unassuming little girl. She's actually a brown paper bag. She's very plain, but always in the morning, she showed talent from the first time we started working her,” Lynch said. “She'd pin her ears and fight.”

While Lynch has yet to decide when Grace Darling will race next, his goal for the Irish import is the Edgewood (G2) at Churchill Downs during Derby Week. Lynch-trained Gift List, who captured the 2021 Edgewood, finished fourth in the TAA Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Gulfstream Jan. 29.

Grace Darling raced twice in Ireland, finishing third in her second start in a strong maiden race at Naas last August.

“The horses she beat in Europe came back to win stakes. The form around her was very good. She was a great purchase. [Werner] is great owner and we're lucky to have her in our barn,” Lynch said.

Tyler Gaffalione guided Grace Darling to victory.

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Hall Of Fame Jockey Gary Stevens Returns To Southern California For Charity Hoops Game

Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens was at Santa Anita Park's Clocker's Corner ahead of Thursday's 53rd annual Charity Basketball Game featuring Santa Anita jockeys versus Holy Angels Middle School. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at LaSalle High School in Pasadena, Calif.

Prior to game time, Stevens will be on hand to sign posters and other memorabilia along with fellow Hall of Famers Laffit Pincay Jr., Kent Desormeaux, Victor Espinoza, Mike Smith and John Velazquez. The autograph session starts at 6:30 p.m. Proceeds from the event are used to support Holy Angels Athletics and the Permanently Disabled Jockey's Fund.

Stevens flew in from Hot Springs, Ark. on Wednesday for the game, which was canceled the past two years due to COVID.

“It was important for me to be here,” Stevens said. “I've been involved with the jockeys and Holy Angels games since 1985. All this time has gone by and now my daughter is actually in the eighth grade at Holy Angels and will graduate to LaSalle next year. To be here to help sign autographs and other things raises a lot of money for the school and helps the jockeys.”

Stevens added he was a regular player in the basketball game when still an active jockey.

“I wasn't a great shooter, but I could handle the ball and was pretty quick,” he noted.

Prior to his retirement from the saddle in 2018, Stevens won 5,187 races including three Kentucky Derby's, three Preakness Stakes, three Belmont Stakes and 11 Breeders' Cup races.

Admission to the game is $5 and tickets can be purchased at the door.

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‘Thinking About The Journey’: Pablo Morales Celebrates 2,500th Win At Tampa Bay Downs

In a sport awash in numbers, Pablo Morales was determined to push a big one to the back of his mind at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Fla., on Wednesday afternoon.

“I knew I could get it (career victory No. 2,500) today, so coming here the only thing I was thinking about before the race was to enjoy the moment,” Morales said after a thrilling, come-from-behind head victory aboard 4-year-old gelding Roger McQueen in the second race secured the milestone. “As I was putting my goggles down, I was taking it all in.

“I was thinking I could win, but I was thinking about the journey.”

Fortunately, in terms of the way the race developed, Morales didn't over-think things. He got a good position stalking pace-setters Bode by You and Imperial Bird early in the 5 ½-furlong, $12,500 claiming event, then began to despair after those two sprinted away through an opening quarter-mile in 21.63 seconds and the half in 44.90.

“Oh, man, I really thought I wasn't going to get there” at the 1/8-mile pole, Morales said. “I was handcuffed without being able to whip, because I had used my 6-strike limit just trying to keep up with the leaders because they were going so fast.

“All I could do the last eighth of a mile was hand-ride him as hard as I could,” Morales added. “The (runner-up, Bode by You) ran a great race, but he got a little tired and I was able to pick up the pieces.”

Roger McQueen, a stakes winner as a 2-year-old, improved to 3-for-8 lifetime. Owned by Carolyn Wilson and trained by Larry Rivelli, Roger McQueen was claimed from the race by new owner-trainer Juan Arriagada.

Morales, a 34-year-old Lima, Peru product who is second in the Oldsmar standings to Samy Camacho with 36 victories, appears to be in the prime of his career. He rode 210 winners in 2022, the fourth time in the last six years he has won 200 or more races. He earned his eighth riding title at Presque Isle Downs last year with 134 winners, 58 more than runner-up Antonio Gallardo.

Morales credits his strong support system, which includes his family and his agent, former jockey Paula Bacon, for his ongoing success.

“My family (wife Erin and children Sophia and Camilo) are my main motivation. They are my everything, and I hope I'm making them proud,” he said. “Paula, I have so many good things to say about. I have to have more than 1,000 wins with her. We work well together, we're friends and she has my best interests in mind. We care about each other, on the racetrack and away from it.”

Morales wasn't done thanking people, not quite. “All the support I've gotten from owners and trainers has been huge, and the fans have been great to me these past few years. They've been nothing but kind to me,” he said.

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