Aine O'Connor

Aine O'Connor is an Irish jockey from Askeaton in County Limerick, the youngest of four girls, who began riding at the age of twelve and was also a keen swimmer as a youngster. Away from the saddle 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. She made her point-to-point debut on Hordargo for Seamus Braddish in 2009 and won on Supersede at Templemore in April 2012. Her wins include the 2017 Ladies National on Coldstonesober, a double at the Fairyhouse Winter Festival in December 2019, the Willoughby De Broke Open Hunters' Chase in 2020 on Minella Rocco and the Grade Three Mares Bumper at Punchestown in May 2024 on Familiar Trait, after which she finished runner-up to Jody Townend as champion lady amateur. She married fellow jockey Niall Madden in 2022, and her sister Ciara is also a jockey.