O'Connor died last week aged 77 and was farewelled by family and friends at his funeral on Saturday.
Jan Twemlow assisted O'Connor for many years in preparing his trotters and pacers, and the pair were helped in recent years by Bill and Susie Burt as O'Connor eked out seven wins in 20 seasons of official training.
O'Connor's final runner, Tachma, could not provide the sentimental win for a small band of supporters at Forbury Park on Friday night, finishing last in O'Connor's colours with friend Graeme McLay in the sulky.
O'Connor spent his life in Dunedin, including 44 years working in management for State Insurance, and developed a deeper interest in harness racing through a friend, John Holland.
''He used to work until 5pm then come home and train horses by spotlight around the track at home if the tides weren't at the right time,'' Twemlow said.
And while O'Connor will not go down as one of New Zealand's greatest standardbred trainers, Twemlow admired his unfailing ambition to drive a winner - something he was unable to do in 599 starts.
''He would say to me the driving win was his goal,'' she said.
''I have to say somebody who loses so consistently yet still can remain positive is somebody rather special because they don't do that these days.
''If they don't win, they give up - but not Brian. He never gave up in the hope of driving that winner.''
O'Connor gained plenty of media attention in 2010, appearing on national television with his beloved mare Kelly Evander, who had crept up to 140-plus starts with only two seconds to her name before eventually retiring winless after 160 starts.
Twemlow said he took the publicity in his stride, and quite simply enjoyed lining horses up.
''The horses were always sound, and he said 'why not start them?' I said 'why not retire her?' but no. Kelly Evander is still alive and out there at the [Brighton] property. I still don't know what I'm going to do with her.''
O'Connor's driving record and sparse training success inevitably attracted the interest of some critics on internet forums. Although he did not own a computer, Twemlow would keep him informed.
''He was upset, don't get me wrong. But at the end of the day, they could think what they liked. It was his horse and he would do it the way he wanted to do it.
''But in the end, there were a hell of a lot of guys who respected him for being a real grafter in the industry.''
Two victories stood out for O'Connor - his win with Lady Marmalade at Oamaru in August 2006 and Invasion Of Privacy's win at Winton in 2005 - although Twemlow almost missed the celebrations for Invasion Of Privacy, purely out of habit.
''I was so excited - I was used to running back to the stall and I got halfway back and realised I should have been in the birdcage, getting my photo taken.''
