Sacrifice
A Year in the Life of a Champion Jockey
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Transworld Publishers Ltd
Publishing:28th May '26
£11.99
This title is due to be published on 28th May, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
This paperback is available in another edition too:
- Hardback£22.00(9780857507587)

Born prematurely, weighing less than a bag of sugar, Oisin Murphy’s life has always been one of struggle. From a young age he found communion with horses. Mesmerised by their power, their spirit, he discovered a gift for the saddle.
Oisin quickly established himself as one of horseracing’s most prodigious talents. But reaching the pinnacle of the sport required a high-wire dance that pushed his body and mind to their breaking point. Despite a three-year streak as champion jockey, alcohol addiction lurked beneath the surface, and a string of misdemeanours saw him banned for over a year.
“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 Oisin’s extraordinary journey back from the brink to recover 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 *
ISBN: 9781804996966
Dimensions: 198mm x 127mm x 35mm
Weight: 500g
304 pages