Galway jockey O’Connor hangs up his riding boots after record-breaking career
RECORDS are there to be broken, but a Galway jockey's achievements in the saddle will probably never be surpassed.
Derek O'Connor has dominated the Point-to-Point scene for nearly two decades, crowned champion jockey between the flags on a dozen occasions and rode 253 winners on the racetrack.
Not alone that, but the Beagh native from the townland of Fiddaun steered home a staggering 1,418 Point-to-Point winners during an unmatched amateur career.
But now the 43-year-old is hanging up his riding boots after announcing his retirement with immediate effect at Nass Racecourse last Sunday.
O'Connor, who has taken out a trainer's licence, leaves an impressive body of work behind him as a jockey. He sampled Cheltenham Festival glory six times, including on the John Earls' locally owned Chicago Grey in the 2011 National Hunt Chase.
In 2024, he captured the amateur rider's championship and among his many racecourse triumphs was partnering outsider Edwulf to a shock Irish Gold Cup success at Leopardstown in 2018.
O'Connor enjoyed other graded wins on the Willie Mullins trained Kilcruit, Nicky Henderson's Ok Corral and Colcannon for the Noel Meade stable. He also landed the Champion Hunter Chase five times at Punchestown.
Champion trainer Willie Mullins paid a warm tribute to O'Connor. ““He's a legend in the sport. It's a fantastic achievement to retire in one piece and still riding at the top of his game.
“He'll be missed in point-to-points. He's a tremendous rider, a tremendous horseman and a jockey when he needed to be,” said Mullins.
Former top jockey Ruby Walsh echoed those sentiments. “He (O'Connor) was a phenomenal amateur but he made riding horses look really easy and it is not easy,” he said.
“He rode plenty of big winners. He was an incredible horseman and for me he made everything look incredibly easy, and that is what made him so good to watch.
“An incredible jockey and it was great to see him last so long, but stop when he wanted to stop and do what he wants to do.”
In a statement, O'Connor said: “After the most wonderful and successful career I feel the time has come to hang up my boots.
"I feel incredibly lucky and privileged to have worked with some of the best people in horseracing; trainers, owners and most importantly the people behind the scenes.
"I am thankful for every day I got the opportunity to put on a set of colours on and the enjoyment it brought to myself, my family, trainers, owners and racegoers alike.
"My association with the [JP] McManus family brought me to places unimaginable for most jockeys. I’ll be eternally grateful.”
O'Connor is expected to continue building his growing training business, having taken out a full licence this season with a focus on both point-to-point horses as well as having runners under rules.