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 to the Press Association 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.”
