One of the point-to-point greats Jamie Codd has called time on his career in the point-to-point sphere when announcing his retirement from race-riding between the flags on Sunday.
The Wexford rider announced his decision after teaming up with his long-time ally Denis Murphy to win the four-year-old geldings’ maiden at the South Westmeath point-to-point in Tattersalls on Supreme Gift.
The decision calls time on a glittering career in the pointing fields which began over 21 years ago with his first ride coming at his local track at Lingstown back in 2000, with his first success coming the following year when Eyze landed a five-year-old geldings’ maiden at Bramblestown.
Codd enjoyed his first double at Comber in October 2004 - winning the open aboard Ichi Cavalo, and the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden aboard Wolseley Lady.
The following day, Codd amazingly secured another double at Lingstown in late October 2004 and 16 months later, he secured his first treble at Bennettsbridge in February 2006 aboard Boneyarrow, Ballinabearna and Tranquil Sea – as he swiftly rose to the top of the riding ranks in the sphere and it wasn't long before Codd secured a remarkable five-timer in March 2006 again at his home track of Lingstown aboard Templers Hall, The Conman Thread, Tenshookmen, Minella Tipperary and Abbeytown.
Over the course of his career between the flags Codd has built up some excellent relationships with a cohort of handlers on the point-to-point circuit such as Jim Dreaper and Gordon Elliott, however, none were as successful as the one he forged with his fellow county man Denis Murphy.
Fittingly it was sporting Murphy’s orange and white silks that he ended his career in the sphere and at a track that has close ties to his life outside of race-riding as a representative of Tattersalls Ireland and Tattersalls Cheltenham.
As the second winning-most rider in the sport’s history behind only Derek O’Connor – he has reached many landmarks throughout his career – most recently when partnering his 900th winner between the flags at the East Antrim point-to-point at Loughanmore in November 2018.
A double on that card brought the Wexford rider to that landmark point in real style, courtesy of Liam Lennon’s Pegase Amour – a win that ensured he was only the second rider ever in the history of point-to-point racing in Ireland to reach the 900-winner mark.
His title hauls have been equally as noteworthy as a two-time champion rider – firstly in 2014 with a remarkable 95 winners in the one season, before adding a second national title two seasons later when partnering 68 winners.
It has been in the Eastern region that he has been most dominant landing the title in 11 consecutive years between 2006 and 2016 inclusively, riding an astonishing 386 winners in the region within that period.
Elsewhere in the region, Codd also added four titles in the North in 2008, 2011, 2014, and 2019, as well as winning a share of the Southern championship in 2017. Codd was also crowned Senior Champion in 2016, 2017 and 2020.
He is set to continue riding on the track where he is booked to ride in two races on Monday evening’s card at Killarney.
Date Milestone Horse Track
15/10/2006 100th Winner The Hardy Snipe Loughrea
30/03/2008 200th Winner Michaels Melody Monksgrange
26/09/2009 300th Winner Rey Nacarado Limavady
06/03/2011 400th Winner Smiths Hill The Pigeons
20/05/2012 500th Winner Eastern Eclipse Stradbally
23/02/2014 600th Winner Kingscourt Native Bennettsbridge
08/03/2015 700th Winner Oldgrangewood Lingstown
06/11/2016 800th Winner Sizingdowntherhine Rockfield
10/11/2018 900th Winner Pegase Amour Loughanmore
