Born prematurely—weighing less than a bag of sugar—Oisín Murphy’s life has always been one of struggle. From a young age, he found communion with horses. Mesmerized by their power and spirit, he discovered a natural gift for the saddle. Oisín quickly established himself as one of horse racing’s most prodigious talents. But reaching the pinnacle of the sport required a high-wire act that pushed his body and mind to their limits. Despite winning three consecutive champion jockey titles, alcohol addiction lurked beneath the surface, and a string of misdemeanors eventually led to a year-long ban. “I dealt with success and failure the same. Drink was the rock I perished on. The day I picked up the championship trophy, there was no element of joy in it for me.” Fast-paced and searingly honest, Sacrifice follows Oisín’s extraordinary journey back from the brink to rediscover his love for the sport and reclaim his champion jockey crown in 2024. It lays bare the realities of life as a professional jockey—and the personal cost of success in a sport that demands total obsession. A gripping and incredibly honest insight into our sport, from one of racing’s most exciting talents ― Frankie Dettori An astonishingly honest account of what it's like being a professional jockey. ― Daily Telegraph Racing’s answer to George Best. ― Daily Telegraph Blunt and engaging ― Irish Times Oisin Murphy grew up in Killarney in Ireland. He started riding ponies from the age of 4 and competed in show jumping before switching to flat racing. He has won two British Classics and a number of Group 1 races. He has been British Champion Jockey in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2024.