It has been a year since prominent Northern Territory horse trainer Nev Connor announced his retirement during the Darwin Cup Carnival.

Rest assured, he misses the the race day atmosphere.

That is not surprising because his association with the horse racing industry lasted more than 50 years, winning all the big races in Darwin and Alice Springs.

"I miss the company of the racing fraternity and I miss dealing with horses, but most of all I miss the whole environment," said Connor, 81, at the launch of the Darwin Cup Carnival at Fannie Bay on Wednesday night.

"Just like when I gave up motorbike riding many years ago, I knew it was time to give up horse training."

Having been based in Alice Springs for so many years, Connor and wife Bonnie moved to Darwin in mid-May after the Alice Springs Cup Carnival and are enjoying life in the Top End.

"I have always liked Darwin and although Bonnie and I loved our time in Alice, we didn't reallyenjoy the cold weather," he said.

And Connor hasn't cut ties with horse racing completely because he owns two quality gallopers, which he has leased to separate trainers.

Faster Buster, who finished second in the Darwin Guineas (1600m) and NT Derby (2000m) a year ago, is now furthering his career in Melbourne. Then there is Disc Jockey, an impressive winner of the Bernborough Club Handicap (1300m) at Fannie Bay last Saturday, who is under the tutelage of Michael Evans.

After finishing second in the NT Guineas (1600m) on April 9 at the Alice Springs Cup Carnival, Disc Jockey saluted in a three and four-year-old WFA event over 1600m at Pioneer Park on April 23 and a Darwin campaign then evolved.

Disc Jockey had finished second behind the well-credentialled High Finance over 1200m in his first start at Darwin on May 28.

High Finance could be the biggest threat to Disc Jockey as Connor and Evans set their sights on the Darwin Guineas and NT Derby.

"Coming to Darwin for the Guineas and Derby was the plan after he won that weight-for-age race in Alice," Connor said.

"High Finance is quality opposition, but Disc Jockey has already won over 1600m," he said.

Connor, who once boasted a golf handicap of three, has joined the Marrara Golf Club where he plays in regular competitions off a 24 these days. Apart from gracing the fairways of Marrara, Connor will, no doubt, continue to frequent Fannie Bay races.