Opie Bosson

Owen Patrick "Opie" Bosson (born 24 July 1980) is a jockey in Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand.

Riding career

Bosson started as an apprentice for Stephen Autridge, his godfather. He began his race-day riding career as a 15 year old on 25 October 1995 with Comette at Dargaville and soon after had his first win on Fairlie Airlie at Gisborne.

In the 1997 season he was the McBeath Apprentice of the Year at the BMW New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Awards and was eighth on the New Zealand Premiership, behind Lance O'Sullivan, with 75 wins from 703 starts. The next apprentice was Mark Sweeney on 53 wins.

On 2 September 1998 Bosson rode the first Australian winner for Chris Waller, Party Belle, in a 2100m maiden race at Wyong.

His first Group 1 victory was Jezabeel in the 1998 Auckland Cup, aged 17.

In March 2019 Bosson surpassed the record of Lance O'Sullivan as the winner of the most New Zealand Group 1 races, with 63 when Melody Belle won the New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie.

As at the end of the 2021 season, Bosson had won:

over 1,800 New Zealand races.

In December 2023 Bosson became the eighth jockey to record 2000 New Zealand wins when riding Move To Strike to win at Te Rapa. The other seven jockeys to reach that mark were Chris Johnson, David Walsh, Lance O'Sullivan, Noel Harris, Bill Skelton, Michael Coleman and David Peake.

In March 2024 Bosson told New Zealand Herald journalist Chris Rattue that his: favourite horse was Imperatriz most memorable race was winning the Caulfield Cup with Mongolian Khan favourite opponent was James McDonald.

In December 2024 Bosson announced his retirement from race riding. He finished his career with: 2146 wins, 2059 in New Zealand 99 Group 1 victories in New Zealand and Australia 51 wins, including 16 Group 1 races, in Australia 31 wins, including 2 Group 1 races, in Singapore

In July 2025 Bosson indicated he would return to raceday riding.

On 7 February 2026 he won his 100th Group 1 race on the back of Legarto at Te Rapa.

Personal life

Opie Bosson is the son of Owen and Glenda Bosson. Owen was a prominent amateur jockey. They separated in 2024.

Notable victories

The following are some of the major races Opie has won in New Zealand and Australia.