Rachael Blackmore observation made as jockey makes retirement admission
The praise continues to come for Rachael Blackmore following her decision to retire from the saddle. The jockey announced last week that she was stepping down as a jockey with immediate effect.
She expanded on her decision in an interview with Betfair on Tuesday, admitting she first had thoughts of retiring at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Blackmore was a true trailblazer, winning the Grand National, Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle among a host of other historic firsts.
'When I was leaving the weighing room at Cheltenham on Friday this year, for the first time I just had a little thought in my head: 'Will I be back here next season?',' she told Betfair.
'It was the first time that thought had ever crept into my head. I didn't know.
'Part of me thought I would be back, part of me thought I wouldn't .
'I just said to myself leave it until June and get to the jockeys' break. I'd think about it all then.'
Blackmore's last winner aboard Ma Belle Etoile at Cork in early May and confirmed her decision, with the jockey announcing her retirement the following day.
'I was going to Cork the other day and I thought: 'If this one wins then maybe that's the time to call it',' she said.
'She won and, the following morning, I fully decided that was it.'
Click on this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest Cheltenham Festival news and top stories from the Irish Mirror direct to your phone on WhatsApp. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
The Tipperary native does not have an immediate plan for the next step in her career, and will adapt to a different lifestyle before considering what to turn her hand to.
'Even though retiring was probably a feeling inside me that I had kind of dampened down, it wasn't part of a massive plan to retire that Saturday, there is nothing set up but I am very lucky that I can take a few weeks and decide what might be next,' she said.
'It will be a very different life to the one I had previously."
People have been taking to social media in their droves to pay tribute to Blackmore, who has been hailed as a class act both on and off the track.
One person wrote: "Rachael Blackmore top class in and out of the saddle, incredible career."
Sanctuary Runners Ireland said: "We salute the amazing Rachael Blackmore this week as she announces her retirement. A class act on the track and off it - she supported a campaign we ran with @UNHCRIreland back in 2020."
Legendary trainer Aidan O'Brien said Blackmore was a "legend in her own lifetime".
Former jockey Katie Walsh stated: "She had a great way of reading races, she was strong both physically and mentally and would line up there with the best of them every day of the week and she was just an inspiration as a human being, she was just absolutely brilliant."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kieran Molloy vows to make Galway a boxing capital ahead of Pearse Stadium bout
Kieran Molloy has vowed to make Kaisee Benjamin wish he did his homework when the pair clash at Pearse Stadium in Galway on 28 June. Molloy is unbeaten in 11 professional fights, and not only does he want to become a world champion, but he wants to take his county along for the ride. The 26-year-old flew in from London on Tuesday morning, where he trains with Charlie Beat, and went straight to the home of Galway GAA. He will be the headline act of the first event to be held at the Salthill stadium, and as he walked around the pitch and up the steps of the main stand, it was obvious that the enormity of the occasion was hitting him. The Oughterard man told the Irish Mirror: "I've been dreaming of moments like this since I was a kid. "I've been here for many big football and hurling matches. I've got a few great mates playing football now for Galway, Matthew Tierney and Johnny Heaney, they'd all be local lads from where I'm from, so I know what the atmosphere and the crowds are like here. "It's just huge now to be able to bring it back to the West of Ireland and have a first ever outdoor stadium. "This has been my vision. I really do believe that Galway can become an active hub for Irish boxing. We're making history with this show alone. "They've always had shows in Belfast and Dublin, and Galway's been missing out on all that. But on 28 June, people are going to set it for real and it's going to be very exciting. I think everyone is going to get right behind it. "It's brilliant to be able to bring a different sport to this venue." It was typical Galway weather for the press conference, a cold wind blowing and showers of rain. Indeed, Molloy's opponent Benjamin started to shiver as the fighters sat down to talk about the upcoming fight. And the Englishman, a former British title challenger, could be forgiven for wishing he were elsewhere as he revealed that he is on baby alert. "My last couple of fights haven't been my past, as I had stuff going on outside of the ring. But I have got that all sorted now. "I have a little girl on the way. The due date is the day after the fight, so I've got my wife eating prunes, dates and pineapples, everything to get it out earlier." He added: "I'm doing it for her, my unborn child. I'm doing it for her future and my future. "It's all or nothing for me." Experienced campaigner Benjamin (18-4-1) raised some eyebrows when he said that he had never seen Molloy in the ring. Asked how highly he rated the Galway man, he said: "To be honest, I've never seen him box. You might think I am being a bit naive, but that's the way I do things." Molloy was quick to respond to this revelation, saying, "Fairy play Kaisee for stepping in as the last seven or eight opponents have all pulled out for one reason or another, but I would recommend that you get studying before 28 June or you could be in big trouble!" The fight night is stacked with a brilliant undercard, including the likes of Belfast's Sean McComb, Westmeath's Joe Ward, and Hughie Fury, the cousin of heavyweight king Tyson, and a late addition to the bill. But there is no doubt that Molloy, who was joined at Pearse Stadium by a host of family and friends, will bring the star attraction as he looks to inspire a new generation of Galway boxers. He said: "When I started off boxing in the Oughterard Club, I was five years old, but I had dreams to fight here. "That's where it all started for me, and the great coaching I received, and all the fans travelling up and down the country, around Europe and around the world to watch me fight, it's all preparation for these nights, and I'm going to grab this with both hands. "I think everybody's in for a shock about how much noise this place is actually going to make on the night. "It's going to build a massive platform for Galway boxing. "In Belfast, you've got your Lewis Crockers and your Michael Conlons, in Dublin you've got your Katie Taylors, and in Galway it's going to be the Kieran Molloy show. We're going to build it massive."
Irish Times
a day ago
- Irish Times
Rachel Blackmore's retirement
Sir, – Would I be alone in losing interest in Irish horse racing after the recent retirement of Rachael Blackmore? I would eagerly scan the runners and riders to see if 'herself' was on board and then making a mental note to see how she did in the results section the following day. As an retiree with no background in horseracing I avidly read the sports pages but they are a little less interesting now that she has gone. I suspect there are a few like me. – Yours, etc, IAIN KENNEDY, READ MORE Co Fermanagh.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Spineless' – Meg Nicholls' verdict on Philip Byrnes' infamous fall as dad Charles breaks silence after horse is sold
BRAVE Meg Nicholls was praised by punters for giving her no-holds-barred verdict on Philip Byrnes' infamous Wexford fall. The jockey's 'soft' unseat at the last when clear on Redwood Queen has sparked an Advertisement Statement issued as officials launch probe into jockey's final-flight fall on leading horse who drifted in market The mare, who has since been sold to a new trainer having belonged to Philip's brother Cathal, was a huge drifter in the betting before the off. New footage has emerged of the flashpoint, which saw Philip, whose dad Charles trained the horse, fall to his knees after the horse successfully jumped the last. Nicholls was involved in a discussion with Sun Racing's Matt Chapman and former Grand National-winning rider Mick Fitzgerald last weekend. And Meg, daughter of iconic trainer Paul, didn't hold back when giving her opinion of what happened. Advertisement Quizzed by Fitzgerald: "So come on then, what are you saying, that he jumped off?" Meg without hesitation hit back: "I think it looks like it. "Watching that it looks as if he is preparing… his knee is out already. He is pushing himself out the left hand side. "It looks as if he is trying to come off." Advertisement Most read in Horse Racing Nicholls' analysis was lauded as 'superb' by ITV viewers - but some disagreed with Fitzgerald. One took exception to his 'spineless' verdict of the incident, while others thought he offered valuable insight into what the jockey was trying to do. Either way, as Byrnes senior finally broke his silence on the incident and used the opportunity to hit out at those doubting his son. Advertisement He said: "It's obvious what happened. "He was trying to get the mare to go in and pop it, because obviously she had the race won, and she came up out of his hands and blew him out of the saddle. "There's no one hurting more than Philip about it." All this came as new footage of the fall was shared online. Advertisement The camera, looking down towards the post from the track, focused in on how Byrnes' feet left their irons. Viewing it on Racing TV on Sunday morning, former jockey Adam McNamara conceded it 'looks really bad'. He said: "I'm going to be pro-jockey by nature and perhaps it's naive of me, but I want to believe it was an unseat. "If it was something more sinister why wait until last to do it? Advertisement "It looks really bad - I think it's a really bad bit of riding. "The jockey will say he should never have fallen off that." Stewards originally decided on the day that no further action would be taken over the incident. But it was only after a social media outcry that the IHRB confirmed it was being looked into. Advertisement 1 The new footage from behind focused in how Byrnes' feet left his irons mid-jump FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Read more on the Irish Sun Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
