Derek O'Connor announces immediate retirement from the saddle Legendary amateur rider Derek O'Connor has announced his retirement from the saddle with immediate effect. The most successful point-to-point rider of all time, the Galway native rode more than 1400 winners in a career that saw him crowned Irish champion on 12 occasions. In a statement released to the Racing Post, O'Connor said that he felt it was the right time to bring the curtain down on his race-riding career. Under Rules, O'Connor also enjoyed plenty of success in the amateur ranks, numbering six Cheltenham Festival winners amongst those. Speaking at Naas, champion trainer Willie Mullins, himself a former champion amateur, said: Derek is a legend in the game. 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 rider and jockey when he needed to be.”
