‘Thank you for everything' – Emotional Henry de Bromhead leads tributes to Rachael Blackmore after shock retirement

The Irish Sun

13-05-2025

HENRY de Bromhead has expressed his gratitude to Rachael Blackmore upon the announcement of her retirement from racing.
The pair were a formidable duo with his stable paving the way for her career-defining highlight of
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In total she won 18 times around Prestbury Park with six coming in the 2021 edition of the famed meet
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The Tipperary woman formed a close bond with the Waterford-based trainer over the years
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It remains to be seen who will replace her as his number one jockey
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The 52-year-old will have a tough job trying to replace her with a jockey of similar ability
Credit: @HenrydeBromhead
Amid countless tributes
He posted on X: "The end of an era (tearful emoji). Thank you Rachael Blackmore, for everything (love heart emoji)."
On Monday evening, the Grand National-winning rider announced on her own social media that she was bringing her glittering 16-year career to an end.
She reflected: "My days of being a jockey have come to an end.
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'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.
'It is daunting, not being able to say that I am a jockey anymore… who even am I now! But I feel so incredibly lucky to have had the career I've had.
"To have been in the right place at the right time with the right people, and to have gotten on the right horses – because it doesn't matter how good you are without them. They have given me the best days of my life and to them I am most grateful.'
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The trailblazing rider spent three months on the sidelines with a neck injury earlier this year and she struggled for form when she returned to the saddle.
But she ended up having another hugely successful season and completed a clean-sweep of the four flagship Cheltenham Festival races when winning the Stayers' Hurdle on Bob Olinger in March.
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She also
She continued: "The people to thank are endless, it's not possible to mention everyone.
"Firstly, my parents who provided me with the best childhood, and a pony I couldn't hold! This set the seed for a life of racing.
"I rode my first winner for Shark Hanlon, who then helped me become Champion Conditional.
"I will be forever grateful to Shark for getting behind me, supporting me and believing in me when it would have been just as easy to look elsewhere. He was the catalyst for what was to come.
"A conversation between Eddie O'Leary and
"Eddie got me in the door at Knockeen, and what came next was unimaginable:
"He's a phenomenal trainer, who brought out the best in me. Without Henry, my story is very different.
"To all my great friends – you made winning special. Brian Hayes won't enjoy getting a mention, but he was more important to my career than I'll ever be able to thank him for."
Only last week she had marked a huge milestone with
Over the weekend she spoke on Brendan O'Connor's