Conor Orr is the latest rider to star in our Next Generation feature following his first Irish point-to-point winner at Ballingarry on Sunday aboard the Nigel Sleivn-trained Red As Rust in the five-year-old mares’ maiden.
The Donegal native, who is an older brother of flat jockey Oisin Orr, is in his first season riding in Irish point-to-points and had a successful time in the saddle having recorded one winner and a third from 8 rides this term.
Name: Conor Orr
Age: 22
Area: Rathcore
How did you become involved in racing?
I always enjoyed racing and being around horses and my family have always had horses.
I started riding ponies as a child and then I wanted to start pony racing so my dad got me a pony to start off with when I was about 12 and I rode 12 winners on that pony.
I went on to ride in pony races for four seasons and rode over 150 winners as well as being crowned the Northern circuit champion one season.
After a few years I started to ride out for a few different trainers for experience and when I was 16 I started with Johanna Morgan to work as an apprentice.
When I turned 18 I moved to England and was amateur to Evan Williams for three and a half years. During my time over there I rode 18 winners, seven in point-to-points and 11 under rules.
I decided to some back home at the end of last season and I am now based with Chris Jones as well as riding out in Gordon Elliot’s one day a week. I also school and ride work for whoever needs me.
How have you found establishing yourself as a rider?
I definitely found it hard when I first moved home.
I thought from the experience I had gained would help me over here but trying to make new contacts is the hardest part but things have been going well over the past few weeks so hopefully that is the start of things now.
Who has been your biggest influence?
Everywhere I have worked everyone has been very good me and helped me when they can.
I always enjoyed watching A P McCoy riding. He is just in another league as a rider. I also enjoy watching Sean Flanagan. It has a great style of riding and is always very helpful towards me.
What has been your best day’s riding?
It was defiantly a weekend rather than a day for me. I had a winner at Tramore on Saturday for Henry De Bromhead and Chris Jones and then had my first point-to-point winner on Sunday for Nigel Slevin.
What is your favourite track to ride at?
I enjoy riding at Down Royal. It’s a nice course to ride at and I was lucky enough to have my first Irish winner since moving back home there aboard One In All at the last meeting.
Do you have any of your own horses?
I have a flat filly to run on the flat over the summer that I own with my brother and some of my friends.
What is your first racing memory?
When I was about eight my dad had a good mare in training that won for us on the track. That is probably one of my best early memories of going racing. I would have been about eight at the time.
Have you any plans for the summer?
I hope to turn conditional over the next few weeks.
When I came back from England I decided to ride in point-to-points for the season to try and make new contacts so hopefully I will get more opportunities over the next couple of months that will get me going.
To read about some of the other featured riders in this series click on the link below.
www.p2p.ie/content.php
Former Champion Pony Racing Rider, Conor Orr enjoyed his first success in the saddle in Irish point-to-points aboard Red As Rust at Ballingarry on Sunday. READ more about Conor here: https://t.co/t9Kb0rNUPX pic.twitter.com/Q8PRwLsqqU
— p2p.ie (@irishp2p) June 5, 2018
