Before passing sentence on Oisin Murphy after the champion jockey had pleaded guilty to a drink-driving offence at Reading magistrates court on Thursday, Sam Goozee, the district judge, reminded him that he was “lucky that neither you nor your passenger nor any member of the public” had been seriously hurt when Murphy crashed his Mercedes into a tree in the early hours of 27 April.
Given the circumstances, he could fairly have added that the sport that made Murphy rich and famous has also been fortunate to emerge (relatively) unscathed from the latest nadir in his chequered career.
