Those closest to Rachael Blackmore pay tribute as friend jokes what's next

Irish Daily Mirror

13-05-2025

Tributes have been pouring in for Rachael Blackmore from the racing world and beyond after she called time on her career as a jockey.
The Tipperary native enjoyed an incredible career in the saddle, winning the Grand National at Aintree in 2021 on Minella Times and recording 18 victories at the Cheltenham Festival, including the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Stayers' Hurdle.
The vast majority of those successes came for Waterford trainer Henry de Bromhead, who is backing the 35-year-old to excel at whatever she chooses to do next.
"It was a bit of a surprise yesterday when she came in and said it to me. I know it wasn't an easy decision for her, but I'm delighted for her," he told RTE's Morning Ireland.
"She seems really happy about it. As is the norm with Rachael her timing is incredible. It's probably when everyone least expected it.
"It's the end of one chapter in her life and she's got so much more to do. I've no doubt she'll be amazing at whatever she does."
He added: "She just said she'd given it a good bit of thought, she just felt now is the right time for her and she still loves the game.
"I'd say it was a hard decision, but delighted for her. She's going out on her terms. And like I say, I'd say it's only the beginning."
Jockey Paul Townend also paid tribute, telling Racing TV: "What has she done for, I suppose I know it as much as anyone, with Jody (his sister) for ladies coming through in this sport. The only road she's seen, she's smashed them.
"Very competitive, very fair, and fair play to her. I wish her all the best in whatever."
Townend then joked about Blackmore's partner and fellow jockey Brian Hayes, laughing: "Babysitting Brian Hayes or whatever. She might be back yet."
Patrick Mullins lived with Blackmore and 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 stated.
'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.'
Trainer Shark Hanlon, who Blackmore rode her first winner for, said: '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.
'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.'
Former jockey David Casey, who is assistant trainer to Willie Mullins, commented: "As shocked as anybody else, I just got a text off her there after the first race to say that she was packing it in. Obviously I was very disappointed to hear that.
"She's been a brilliant jockey, a credit to the profession, and all I can say is that I wish her the best for whatever she endeavours to do in the future."