Aine O'Connor

Last updated

Aine O'Connor
OccupationJockey
Born County Limerick
NationalityIrish
Spouse
  • ​
    (m. 2022)​

Aine O'Connor is an Irish jockey.

Early life

The youngest of four girls from Askeaton in County Limerick, she started riding at twelve years-old and was also a keen swimmer as a youngster. [1] She has worked for Equuip, the education and training department of Horse Racing Ireland and for RACE recruiting young people to trainee jockey courses and junior academies. [2] [3]

Contents

Career

O’Connor made her point-to-point debut aboard Hordargo for Seamus Braddish at Dromahane in 2009. She rode Supercede to victory at Templemore in April 2012. She won the Class 2 Clarke Chase at Uttoxeter Harry Fry, and the 2017 Ladies National aboard Coldstonesober. [4] In 2018, she rode American in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury. [5] That year, she won a Hunters Chase at Listowel on On The Fringe. [6]

O’Connor achieved the first double of her career at the Fairyhouse Winter Festival in December 2019, riding Demi Plie to a win in the Mares' Handicap Chase and then won on Brawler in the Handicap Hurdle. [7] [8] She won the ladies’ handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day 2020, winning on JP McManus-owned Spruced Up. [9]

In 2020, she won the Schiaparelli Willoughby De Broke Open Hunters' Chase on Minella Rocco. [10]

In January 2023, she won at Gowran Park on Goffs Thyestes Day where she rode Hands Of Gold to win the ladies’ maiden hurdle. [11]

In May 2024, she won the Grade Three Mares Bumper at Punchestown on Familiar Trait. [12] [13] That month, she finished runner-up to Jody Townend as Champion lady amateur. [14]

Personal life

She married fellow jockey Niall Madden in County Limerick in June 2022. [15] [16] [17] Her sister Ciara is also a jockey, and is married to race horse owner Harry Fry. [18]

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References

  1. ↑ Corr, Alison (21 April 2017). "ON THE SPOT: Aine O'Connor - Find out what made Aine O'Connor get the first flight out of Bangkok and her expensive way to relax". The Irish Field. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  2. ↑ "Women In Sport: Aine O'Connor urges all not to 'be afraid to aim to be the best'". Limerick Leader. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  3. ↑ Moriarty, Rachel (30 August 2019). "RACE UPDATE: O'Connor is up for the challenge Rachel Moriarty spoke to Aine O'Connor about her new role as recruitment officer in RACE". The Irish Field. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  4. ↑ "Aine O'Connor". p2p.ie. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  5. ↑ Dietz, Andrew (29 November 2018). "Aine O'Connor gets call-up to ride leading Ladbrokes Trophy hope American". Racing Post. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  6. ↑ O'Riordan, John (8 June 2018). "HEART OF RACING: Aine O'Connor". The Irish Field. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  7. ↑ Diallo, Raf. ""IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE A THING OF THE PAST SOON" - AINE O'CONNOR ON FEMALE FLAT JOCKEYS BREAKING THE MOULD". OfftheBall. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  8. ↑ Kinsella, Colm (2 December 2019). "Big double success for Askeaton jockey Aine O'Connor". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  9. ↑ Coughlan, Ronan (6 January 2020). "Askeaton's Aine O'Connor shines at Fairyhouse". Limerick Post. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  10. ↑ Gibbons, Craig (24 January 2020). "Golden Sovereign brings joy for O'Brien at Warwick". Stratford Herald. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  11. ↑ Kinsella, Colm (30 January 2023). "Limerick racing connections visit winners' enclosure". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  12. ↑ Verney, Michael (3 May 2024). "Martin Brassil's Fastorslow denies Galopin Des Champs again in Punchestown Gold Cup". Independent.ie. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  13. ↑ Kinsella, Colm (7 May 2024). "Limerick jockeys enjoy terrific spell of success on the racetrack". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  14. ↑ Jennings, David (4 May 2024). "'I'm a bit battered and bruised, but days like these make it all worth it' - Jack Kennedy crowned new champion jump jockey". Racing Post. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  15. ↑ "Grand National-winning Madden retires". BBC Sport. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  16. ↑ Mullins, Patrick (23 May 2024). "'I never dial myself down, so when I ride I still put on my mascara' - Patrick Mullins meets Aine O'Connor" . Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  17. ↑ Hamilton, Olivia (17 June 2022). "Irish Derby tickets to be won". The Irish Field. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  18. ↑ "Aine O'Connor". Irish Racing. 22 January 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
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