Tributes paid as Rachael Blackmore announces retirement from racing after record-breaking career – ‘I feel the time is right'
Triumph in the world's most famous steeplechase on Minella Times was one of many extraordinary feats by the Tipperary jockey as she left an incredible mark in racing, most notably for women in the sport.
Blackmore shattered so many glass ceilings along the way with victory in the 2020 Champion Hurdle aboard Honeysuckle helping to parachute the Killenaule native to be crowned leading rider at the Cotswolds.
The 35-year-old built up a strong association with Henry de Bromhead and it was with the Waterford trainer that she enjoyed most of her biggest successes, highlighted by A Plus Tard's victory in the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity.
In a statement, Blackmore said 'My days of being a jockey have come to an end.
'I feel the time is right. I'm sad but I'm also incredibly grateful for what my life has been for the past 16 years. I just feel so lucky, to have been legged up on the horses I have, and to have experienced success I never even dreamt could be possible.'
Thanking those who helped her during her career, Blackmore had special praise for de Bromhead, adding;
'A conversation between Eddie O'Leary and Henry de Bromhead in a taxi on the way to Aintree took my career to a whole new level. Eddie got me in the door at Knockeen, and what came next was unimaginable: Honeysuckle, A Plus Tard, Minella Indo, Captain Guinness, Bob Olinger, Minella Times, among many others... all with one thing in common-Henry de Bromhead. He's a phenomenal trainer, who brought out the best in me. Without Henry, my story is very different.'
Shark Hanlon provided Blackmore with her very first winner back in 2011 and paid tribute to the ground-breaking jockey.
When Stowaway Peal won at Thurles in February that year, few could have predicted Blackmore would go on to count the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and Grand National among her big-race wins, although Hanlon never doubted her courage in the saddle.
'From the first day she started with me she was an amazing girl. She was point-to-pointing at the time and what frightened me about her was she was so brave and I was afraid she'd get hurt,' said Hanlon.
'I remember asking her to go professional, she didn't want to and her parents didn't want to, but I said if it didn't work out she could go back (to being amateur).
'The big thing she wanted to win was the point-to-point ladies' championship and I annoyed her because I took her out of that! That was her big aim though, no such thing as the Gold Cup or Grand National, just that title.
'I'm delighted she went out on her own terms, she rang me just before she released it and it brought tears to my eyes, she has been so much part of our family over the years, my mother and father adored her.
'She's an amazing woman. I was so lucky she came to me and I was able to provide her with her first winner.
'She was so brave when she first started, she was like a spring when she fell, she used to bounce back up. I remember I got phone calls from people asking what I was thinking in asking her to turn pro but it's some story.
'She won't leave racing because she loves horses, like us all.
'The last big winner she had for me was Hewick in the Bet365 Gold Cup (2023) which was nice.
'I'll never forget when my lad Paddy had first started here and he was on the gallop on a white pony and Rachael was leading. We have a nice picture of it, it's days like that you'll never forget.'
Patrick Mullins lived with Blackmore and her partner Brian Hayes for 10 years and said it was a 'privilege' to see her career develop as it did.
'I had a front row seat for the whole journey and it's been extraordinary and a privilege to watch,' he said.
'She did it all, I don't think anyone has done it better. Her race record stands up with any of the best jockeys. She rode as many Cheltenham Festival winners as Richard Dunwoody, which is incredible.
'If you look back at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival when she had the six winners and was leading rider, I think she won a bumper, a hurdle, a chase from two miles to three miles. I think that week she showed she had the full array of talent and those four days were extraordinary – I don't think anyone has ridden Cheltenham better than she did that week.
'Even this year, to come back from the injury and Henry's horses were running poorly when she came back, but she got to Cheltenham and put in two peaches of a ride aboard Bob Olinger and Air Of Entitlement.
'She was a woman for the big stage, but made her name on the small stage. To get to where she was from where she came from was extraordinary and it won't be the same without her.'
Blackmore's victory aboard A Plus Tard in the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup was one of six Festival winners for the rider in the colours of Cheveley Park Stud.
Cheveley Park director Richard Thompson said: 'You can't really put into words what Rachael achieved.
'The Gold Cup win, what a day. She obviously rode A Plus Tard the year before when he was second to Minella Indo in the Covid year and 12 months later they gave me and the family and Cheveley Park one of the best days we've ever had on a racecourse without question.
'Rachael was obviously the first female jockey to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup, it was a year after Covid and the crowds were back. Rachael winning the Gold Cup was the story and seeing her in the red, white and blue made it a day we'll never forget.
'It's an astonishing CV she built up, winning 18 Cheltenham Festival races, six for us including a Gold Cup, so we had some great days with her.
'Cheveley Park's bond with Rachael will be there forever because of what she did for us at Cheltenham and in a number of Grade Ones generally, with A Plus Tard's Gold Cup win being the icing on the cake.'
Blackmore's famous Grand National success came aboard the JP McManus-owned Minella Times in 2021 and the owner's racing manager Frank Berry praised her achievements in the saddle.
He said: 'What can you say about her career? She's had an unbelievable career, she's done all things that everyone wants to do and she's a lovely person.
'Winning the Grand National on Minella Times was an incredible day, she's won all the big races and she's retiring in one piece. I'm delighted for her.'
Blackmore twice finished second in the Irish jockeys' championship, finishing just eight winners behind Paul Townend in the 2020-21 season.
He said: 'I know Rachael as much as anyone with Jody (Townend, jockey sister) coming through in the sport and she smashed the barriers.
'She won everything and gave me a big fright in a championship one season as well. She burst on the scene and had a relatively short career but then rode right at the top level.
'She was amazing and I wish her all the best for the future.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
19 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Shane Lowry continues surge during second-round of RBC Canadian Open as Rory McIlroy faces battle to make cut in Toronto
SHANE Lowry continued his fine form in Canada this week as he shot a second round 68 at TPC Toronto. 2 Shane Lowry fired a second-round 68 at TPC Toronto - and just four back from the lead 2 Rory McIlroy must get motoring if he's to make the cut in Canada Clara star Lowry made the turn in one under par before tallying the same on the back-nine in Canada. Yesterday, the 2019 runner-up, posted seven birdies, with his only dropped shot of the day coming on 13. He's four-strokes behind overnight leader Cameron Champ, who fired a second-round 66 to continued his fire form with a total of -12. Two-time Canadian open champion Rory read more on golf Starting on the back nine at TPC Toronto, the Grand Slam winner began with a couple of pars but made bogey on 12. The world number two then dropped another on 17 as he failed to hole a 20-foot put for par. His response was to make birdies at the next three holes, which included rolling in an 11-foot putt at the second. McIlroy then followed a run of five pars with bogeys on the closing two holes. Most read in Golf He must now aim to go low in the second round as he's one of the evening starters in Canada. The Down ace gets his round underway at 5:55pm Irish time on Friday. Amanda Balionis accused by Scottie Scheffler of 'trying to get him emotional' during live TV interview Currently the cut-line is at -2, the course nearly played 1.5 strokes better for afternoon starters on Thursday. Waterford ace Seamus Power withdrew from the event after nine holes.
Irish Times
a day ago
- Irish Times
Nicky English: Opportunity for redemption smaller for Cork than Galway
One of the trickiest challenges a team can face is having to play opponents whom you beat comprehensively just a few weeks previously. That is the task for both provincial champions going into this year's Munster and Leinster finals. Galway and Cork are in the other boat, having had their heads handed to them by Kilkenny and Limerick only a few weeks ago. The imperative for both if they are to have any chance going forward is to close the gap and, with that improvement, gather some momentum. It is obviously more acute for Cork, who, unlike Galway don't look to me as if they're picking up form. They couldn't really have been happy with the mixed performance against Waterford, which provided little reassurance after the mauling in Limerick. Cork have gone from being favourites for the championship to nearly an unknown package in terms of their real worth. READ MORE To re-establish themselves as realistic contenders after losing by 15 points, they need to compete and knock about 10 off that deficit. That's not going to be easy. Limerick were outstanding the last day and although they fell back against Clare, I'm inclined to discount that result. They made plenty of changes but the key men will all be back on Saturday. They blew Cork out the last day, in all areas of the field from Nickie Quaid's puck-outs up to the full forward line. In the end, Cork were looking for the final whistle, just to get out of there. How much weight should be attached to the incentive to do better and potential complacency in the champions' camp? Probably not enough to overturn all known form. Leaving aside the Limerick match, which was a disaster, Cork have been inconsistent, looking very good at times but then in the same games, ineffective. There have been poor second-halves against Clare and Tipperary – twice – and a very mixed bag against Waterford. Defence has been an issue and they are badly hit by injury. Ger Millerick was one of the better performers the last day and he's out but the man he replaced, Niall O'Leary, who had been playing quite well at corner back, is back. Rob Downey has been played when he didn't look fit and didn't line out against Waterford but is named this weekend. On the last trip to the Gaelic Grounds, he was switched with Ciarán Joyce, who was detailed to pick up Cian Lynch – except he didn't. Playing loose at centre back allowed Lynch to pull the strings, which he did to mesmerising effect. Opponents, like fans, are often mesmerised by Limerick's Cian Lynch. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho What happens this time? I said from the start that John Kiely's biggest concern would be to get all his players fit and on the field and that's what has happened. Lynch is a barometer of their wellbeing and his form has been back to its best. In general, they look better than last year. Adam English has become an exceptional midfielder. Cathal O'Neill, one of their best players a year ago, is coming back. Kyle Hayes has strengthened centre back and Barry Nash, who didn't play in last year's semi-final, has slotted in outstandingly well on the left wing. Cork's main platform in the wins over Limerick last year was quick puck-outs and getting the half backs turned. Séamus Harnedy and Declan Dalton caused huge disruption but the last day, Dalton had to go off injured and there's still no sign of him. Harnedy came on and improved things a bit but in the first half against the elements, the likes of Hayes were just unmanageable with the ball in the air, held up in a gusting wind. It really is hard to see anything apart from a Limerick win. Galway also have ground to make up at Croke Park but they certainly have improved since losing in Kilkenny and have found more of a team dynamic. They've become more balanced. There was a lot of experimentation during the league but Micheál Donoghue has put together a team with a lot of the experienced players slotted into place. Their half-back line has become pretty solid. Cianan Fahey, Gavin Lee and TJ Brennan have become quite forceful in that zone. Cathal Mannion has been scoring freely and Conor Whelan, playing a deeper role, and Brian Concannon are picking up form nicely. I felt Dublin would beat them but they were comfortable, scored fluently and never looked in trouble. Kilkenny have been playing quietly off-Broadway, as I've said before. They lost to Wexford in what has nearly become an annual event but they were safely in the final by then. I don't really subscribe to the idea that they are dark horses for the All-Ireland but we'll learn more about them this weekend because it won't surprise me if Galway bring their best display of the year to date. If they do, it will be a significant test. The easy call is Kilkenny but they're still depending on TJ Reid, and Eoin Cody is out with a hamstring injury. Martin Keoghan and John Donnelly have stepped up in recent times and, under Derek Lyng, they always add up to the sum of their parts and often exceed it, but I'm still not convinced. On a final point, we have just had the June bank holiday but there are only seven matches left in the entire championship for the rest of the summer. I know the die has been cast on this but to me, it makes no sense whatsoever.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Waterford captain reveals ‘important' message the squad received following LGFA Munster final loss
DEVELOPING the staying power required to go the distance will be essential if Waterford are to maintain their upward trajectory. That is the assessment of skipper Emma Murray ahead of this weekend's TG4 All-Ireland Ladies SFC opener against Dublin. Advertisement Murray and her team-mates were on course to deliver Waterford's first Munster title in 23 years in the recent final against The Déise held a 0-10 to 0-6 lead entering the closing stages but had their hearts broken as Danielle O'Leary and Mary O'Connell netted late goals. Murray told SunSport: 'Obviously you're a bit raw after losing a game like that when you know you've left a bit of silverware behind you. "But you eventually see positives from the performance over 40, 50 minutes. Advertisement Read more on the GAA 'We'll certainly have to take huge learnings from it and bring them into our All-Ireland campaign. I suppose it's about closing out games. "The momentum shifted to Kerry in that last ten minutes and we struggled to get it back. 'The key message within the panel is the importance of making sure you're performing for 60-plus minutes. "The game isn't over until that whistle goes. You have to sustain your performance until you get there.' Advertisement Most read in GAA Football Comment Despite that disappointment, Waterford are a team on the rise. Wins over Mayo, Tyrone, Kildare and defending champions Armagh helped Tomás Mac an tSaoir's side to a third-place finish in NFL Division 1. Tipperary GAA star 'had to do live apology on RTE' the day after cursing during All-Ireland interview - They also advanced to the provincial decider by getting the better of a Cork team who eliminated them from Brendan Martin Cup contention last year with a ten-point win at the quarter-final stage. Murray acknowledged: 'We finished fourth in Munster last year so getting to a Munster final was huge progress for us. Advertisement 'For there to only be two points in it against Kerry, and in the round-robin series it was only a point. "Competing like that with the All-Ireland champions is absolutely where we want to be.' 1 It's a big campaign ahead for Waterford who have Leitrim and Dublin in the group stages
