Two of Europe’s top jockeys, Oisin Murphy and Sean Levey, are joining the riding colony at Gulfstream Park for the championship meet, with Murphy aiming to gain more experience on dirt tracks and Levey seeking new challenges and opportunities.
‣ Two of Europe’s top riders, Oisin Murphy and Sean Levey, are joining the riding colony at Gulfstream Park for the championship meet, strengthening what is already considered one of the deepest jockey colonies in the country.
‣ Murphy, who was the British flat champion jockey for three consecutive years (2019, 2020, 2021), is looking forward to gaining more experience on dirt surfaces, which are prevalent at Gulfstream Park. He is also the retained jockey for Qatar Racing and will be riding their horses during the Gulfstream Championship meet.
‣ Levey, who has spent his winters riding on all-weather tracks in Great Britain, is looking for new opportunities and challenges. He sees joining the Gulfstream Park colony as a chance to gain more experience, make new contacts, and potentially win better prize money.
The jockey colony, already arguably the deepest in the country, has grown stronger this year. Two of Europe’s top riders, Oisin Murphy and Sean Levey, are joining the riding colony at Gulfstream Park for the championship meet.
Murphy, 28, is the more known of the two. He was the British flat champion jockey for three consecutive years in 2019, 2020, and 2021. He has ridden Group I winners in various countries including Great Britain, Ireland, France, Canada, Germany, Japan, the UAE, and the U.S. His three Grade I wins in the U.S. came in the GI Belmont Oaks, the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S., and in the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff with the Japanese invader Marche Lorraine (Orfevre Jpn).
During the winter, when flat racing slows down in Europe, Murphy travels worldwide to compete in big races. He’s been to places like Australia, Japan, and Hong Kong. However, the opportunity to settle at one track during winter, offering good purses and perfect weather, appealed to him. Gulfstream also represents a chance to master a new surface–dirt.
Murphy expressed his desire to gain more experience on dirt. He noted that most of the important races at Gulfstream are on dirt. He believes there will be ample opportunities to ride over this important surface and prove his versatility.
Murphy is the retained jockey for Qatar Racing, a global racing and bloodstock operation founded and chaired by Sheikh Fahad bin Abdullah Al Thani. He can count on riding the Qatar Racing horses that show up in the entries during the Gulfstream Championship meet.
Murphy has been a fan of American racing since his childhood and always wanted to do a stint in the States. The opportunity came up for him this time. Sheikh Fahad, who heads Qatar Racing, had a conversation with Aidan Butler, the Chief Executive Officer of 1/ST Racing and Gaming. He thought it would be a good idea for Murphy to come here. Murphy plans to join the Gulfstream colony on Dec. 27 and, except for a trip to Saudi Arabia for the Saudi Cup Card, intends to ride full time at Gulfstream at least until through January.
Murphy expressed his respect for the top riders in the U.S. He hopes that riding against them will help him gain a huge amount of knowledge and learn their riding styles. He already has a good relationship with those guys.
Like Murphy, Levey, 35, is looking for new opportunities and a challenge. He usually spent his winters riding on the all-weather tracks in Great Britain, but wanted to try something different. He believes this is a great opportunity to do something different and to put him in a good place for the season ahead.
Levey was born in Swaziland and his father was a jockey who rode all over Europe. In 2001, the family moved to County Tipperary, Ireland, where his parents worked at Ballydoyle for trainer Aidan O’Brien. Levey rode out for O’Brien and, together with his brother Declan, spent a year on the pony racing circuit. He started riding professionally in Ireland before moving on to Great Britain. He’s won six Group I races, four in the U.K. and two in France.
Levey has made some connections with U.S. trainers when coming over with O’Brien horses for the Breeders’ Cup and other major events. He’s also spent some time in the U.S. working as an exercise rider. He hopes to make more contacts and gain as much experience as he can. He’s coming over with an open mind and will try to get as many rides as he can. If that comes with his getting a few winners that would be great. He knows how many good riders are here and that it will be very competitive. But once he gets his foot in the door, he believes that will lead to his getting a few winners. Levey hopes to begin riding next week and says his work visa lasts for 90 days.
