O’Connor goes into the horse racing record books

BEAGH native Derek O’Connor, who created a notable piece of horse racing history last weekend when he became the first jockey to ride 1,000 Point-to-Point winners, has confided it was a relief to have achieved the momentous milestone.

Closing in on the significant achievement in recent weeks, O’Connor – who rode his first point-to-point winner, Rossy Orchestra, in a mares’ maiden way back in February 2000 at Killaloe – said he was not impervious to the expectation and anticipation among racing enthusiasts.

“It was a nice milestone to hit,” began the 32-year-old. “It was getting plenty of coverage for the last few weeks so it was a bit of a relief to get it over and done with.

“It was a great day. All my family were there – I was surrounded by friends and family – and I got a great reception when I came back in. It was very nice. People have been very nice to me since. The media, I actually don’t believe half the stuff they are saying about me,” he laughed.

O’Connor edged closer to the milestone when he took his total to 999 with victory on mount Muirhead at Kirkistown in Northern Ireland on Sunday. “Yeah, I was in Kirkistown, which is a ferocious journey. About five hours up,” he continued.

“Some of my family came up with me on Saturday in case I got to the milestone then but in a funny way I was happy I didn’t. I had one winner on Saturday in the North and I was half relieved coming down the road because I was anxious to do it a bit closer to home.”

Another reason was that O’Connor was due to ride out for one of his most loyal supporters at Cragmore, County Limerick on the Sunday, namely trainer Pat Doyle, who had the Gigginstown House stud-owned Death Duty running in the Brightwells Bloodstock four-year-old geldings maiden.

“Pat Doyle would be one of my main supporters so to ride for Gigginstown Stud – it was a horse belonging to Michael O’Leary that was the 1,000th winner – it was a bit nicer riding for a man who I have ridden for all the way throughout my career.

Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune.