Four-time champion jockey Oisin Murphy will appear at Reading Magistrates' Court July 3 after being charged with drunk and failing to take a roadside test following a car crash near Newbury in April.
Murphy was charged June 19, the same day he rode a double at Royal Ascot, where he won the Britannia Stakes on Arabian Story and the Buckingham Palace Stakes on Never So Brave. He was initially arrested at the scene of the accident April 27, which resulted in a female passenger being taken to hospital with serious injuries, before he was released on bail.
He has been charged with one count of driving a motor vehicle while over the prescribed limit of alcohol, and one count of failing to cooperate with a preliminary test at the roadside.
A Thames Valley Police statement released June 26 said: "A man has been charged in connection with an ongoing investigation into a serious road traffic collision in Hermitage, West Berkshire.
"Last Thursday, Oisin Murphy, aged 29 of Beales Farm Road, Lambourn, Hungerford, was charged by postal requisition with one count of driving a motor vehicle while over the prescribed limit of alcohol and one count of failing to cooperate with a preliminary test at the roadside.
"The charge is in connection with a single vehicle road traffic collision around 12:05 am on Sunday, April 27 this year when a grey Mercedes A Class left the road and crashed into a tree."
It added: "It is vital that people do not speculate or spread misinformation on social media as this is a live investigation."
In response to the statement, a British Horseracing Authority spokesperson said: "The BHA is aware of an update issued by Thames Valley Police this afternoon regarding Mr. Oisin Murphy.
"We are now seeking to gather as much information as possible in order to consider what, if any, implications there are as a result of this development."
Murphy was previously banned from riding for 14 months for Covid-19 and alcohol breaches, having accepted five charges brought against him by the BHA.
Two charges related to breaking Covid rules in September 2020, two failed tests for alcohol in May and October of 2021, as well as one overarching charge of "acting in a manner which is prejudicial to the proper integrity, conduct, and good reputation of the sport".
He did not ride November 2021 and February 2023.
Murphy has ridden 1,674 winners in Britain, including a career-best 220 victories in 2019, and has enjoyed classic victories on Kameko in the 2020 Two Thousand Guineas (G1) and Mawj in the One Thousand Guineas (G1) two years ago.
He has partnered 86 winners in Britain this year, five of which came at Royal Ascot, and leads the British flat jockeys' championship. He has been British champion jockey four times, including three times in a row between 2019 and 2021.
Murphy has formed successful partnerships with trainer Andrew Balding and Qatar Racing, for whom he is the retained rider. He is currently booked for five rides at Doncaster June 27, as well as six at York's Premier meeting June 28.
Murphy and Qatar Racing did not respond to the Racing Post when approached for comment.
