Champion New Zealand jockey Opie Bosson has announced his retirement from race riding in a statement online today.
Bosson shared the “personal news” in a post to social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
“I’m retiring from riding today,” he wrote.
“Thanks all the owners, trainers and public who have supported me over the past 30 years.”
Bosson said he’s had an “incredibly rewarding career”, but the time was right to move on.
Manager Aidan Rodley said Bosson’s journey in racing began under the guidance of his godfather, Stephen Autridge, where he started as an apprentice.
“His race-day debut came at just 15 years old, riding Comette at Dargaville on October 25, 1995. Not long after, he celebrated his first victory aboard Fairlie Airlie at Gisborne,” Rodley said in a statement.
Bosson’s first Group 1 win was aboard Jezabeel in the 1998 Auckland Cup, aged 17.
Other accolades included securing Chris Waller’s first Australian victory by guiding Party Belle to triumph in a 2100m maiden race at Wyong on September 2, 1998.
In March 2019, Bosson broke Lance O’Sullivan’s record for the most Group 1 victories in New Zealand, achieving his 63rd win when Melody Belle claimed the New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie.
Bosson was one of just eight jockeys to ride more than 2000 winners in New Zealand.
