Latest news with #AintreeGrandNational
Irish Independent
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
‘It will be a very different life to the one I had previously' - Rachael Blackmore on what awaits after retiring as a jockey
Blackmore joined a select crew of jockeys to have completed the championship set at the Cotswolds when guiding Bob Olinger to Stayers' Hurdle success two months ago, in what turned out to be her last Festival winner. The 35-year-old exited the Gloucestershire track the next day for what would be her last time as a jockey having brought the curtain down on her glittering career last week. "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?'" Blackmore told Betfair in an exclusive interview. "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 [the decision] until June and get to the jockey's break. I'd think about it all then." The Tipperary native, who became the first female jockey to land the Aintree Grand National aboard Minella Times in 2021, didn't even get to June with a winner aboard Ma Belle Etoile at Cork expediting her decision. When you know, you know and Blackmore reckoned that the time to hang up her saddle had arrived. "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 won and, the following morning, I fully decided that was it," she said. Blackmore forged a bond with equine stars like Honeysuckle, A Plus Tard, Bob Olinger and Captain Guinness and her association with Henry de Bromhead brought her to racing's pinnacle. "I love horses. They have given me the best days of my life and I have been so lucky to be involved with some of the best ones," the Killenaule native said. "You can really want to ride a Cheltenham winner but you are not going to do it if you don't get on horses that are capable of doing that." As for the next chapter, Blackmore has already penned a children's book but she will take time out before deciding what lies ahead. "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," she said. "There is nothing set up but I am very lucky that I can take a few weeks and decide what might be next. It will be a very different life to the one I had previously."
RTÉ News
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Rachael Blackmore: It wasn't a massive plan, it just felt like the right time
Just a week after announcing her retirement as a jockey, Rachael Blackmore says it wasn't part of a "massive plan" and that the timing just "felt right." The Tipperary rider announced her retirement last week after a glittering 16-year career, in which she became the first female jockey to win the Aintree Grand National in 2021 and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2022 - won aboard Minella Times and A Plus Tard respectively. Blackmore rode a total of 18 winners at Cheltenham over the course of her career and also became the first woman to be leading jockey at the festival in 2022. Reflecting in the wake of her retirement and the tributes which followed, Blackmore spoke to Ruby Walsh and Damien O'Meara on RTÉ 2fm's Game On, admitting she was "blown away" by the response to the news. "It wasn't a massive plan. I never knew how that day would come. But it did come," Blackmore said of her decision to retire. "It just felt right in that moment. It felt like the right time. "I'm so blown away by the response. Obviously, I knew it would be a news story in some shape. The amount of coverage in the newspapers. The amount of articles. "The amount of people that have written to me and rang me and sent me messages. People that you might pass and you know them but you don't have their numbers. But they've gone out of their way to get my number and send me a message. I'm just so blown away by that." Asked to cite her most memorable victory, Blackmore first plumped for her final win aboard Honeysuckle in the 2023 Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham, though acknowledged that few things in racing could top the joy of a Grand National victory. "I think coming back into the winners' enclosure on Honeysuckle on her last race was a phenomenal feeling. "Even visually, I hope I'll never forget what it looked like. It was just black with people. There was no space anywhere. "It was different. It didn't feel like it was just about me riding a winner. It wasn't about that. It was about loads of other things. It was a very special moment. "I don't know would I love to live it again because it was sad as well. But it was a standout moment. "Obviously, winning the Grand National was just phenomenal. You just don't feel joy like that instantaneously when you cross the line. I've never felt such a kick of joy straight away. "You ride winners in Cheltenham and you feel relief because there's pressure and so on. But the Grand National is just joy straight away. "I was very lucky when I got linked up with Henry DeBromhead. He had a serious yard of horses. "It just elevated my career to a whole new level. You need to get the bounce of the ball essentially and I feel like I got that. "There's so many good riders in the weighing room and there's only a certain amount of races in a day. There can only be seven jockeys or whatever ride a winner in a day. You have to be getting on the right horses to achieve these things." On her future plans, the 35-year old said she was taking her time before deciding what to pursue next but stressed that she felt lucky to be retiring on her own terms. "I wish I knew. I never thought about what I'd do when I'd finish. Because I felt so lucky to be in the position I was. I just wanted to focus on what I was doing. I'm very lucky that I can take a few weeks and try and figure everything out. "I'm so lucky I got to finish when I wanted to. Physically I'm fine. I could go out and ride in the morning if I wanted to. My body is good. "I've had my injuries, I've had my breaks. But I had very good people looking after me. I'm well patched up now. "I was very lucky throughout my career in that sense. I didn't come off too badly on the injury side of it. Every jockey has their falls and I got my share of them. But they could always have been a lot worse."
Agriland
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Agriland
Agriculture minister pays tribute to jockey Rachael Blackmore
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has paid tribute to jockey, Rachael Blackmore, who announced her retirement from riding race horses yesterday (Monday May 13), after an astounding career. Blackmore grew up on a dairy farm in Co. Tipperary and her long association with the stable of trainer Henry de Bromhead proved an outstanding success. Among her many career highlights in the saddle was when she won the Aintree Grand National in 2021 – the first female jockey ever to do so. Minister Heydon said: 'I want to pay tribute to one of the greats of national hunt racing Rachael Blackmore on the announcement of her retirement from what has been a glittering career. 'The list of achievements including her famous success in the 2021 Aintree Grand National ensure Rachael's place in history. 'We'll never forget her magnificent win on Minella Times in the world's most famous steeplechase as well as has seeing her claim the Cheltenham Gold Cup, one of 18 Cheltenham festival victories. 'Taking the leading jockey accolade in Cheltenham five years ago was yet another milestone she achieved,' Heydon added. The agriculture minister added that Rachael's legacy was not just in race wins, but as a role model for a whole generation of jockeys, both female and male. 'In a sport where men and women complete on a level playing she excelled and is a fantastic ambassador for the horse racing and breeding industry,' the minister continued. 'Her singular dedication brought her from ponies, to the point to point world, to Shark Hanlon's yard where she rode her first winner and became Champion Conditional rider, which then led onto Henry de Bromhead's stables where she achieved so much in Ireland and beyond. 'I would like to thank Rachael for all of the joy that she brought to so many, for representing all that is good in the Irish horse racing and breeding industry and congratulate her on being one of Ireland's greatest ever sports stars and horse racing ambassadors.' The minister has wished Rachael well in her future endeavours and said he is confident that whatever she turns her hand to, she will continue to be successful.
Extra.ie
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Extra.ie
Rachael Blackmore lauded as a 'role model for whole generation'
The Minister for Agriculture has lauded Rachael Blackmore's contribution to Irish sport following her recent retirement. Confirming her retirement on Monday afternoon, Rachael took to social media and shared a touching statement with fans. The Tipperary native became the first female jockey to win the Grand National in 2021. She also became the first woman to be lead jockey at the Cheltenham Festival with six victories, including the Champion Hurdle in 2021. The Minister for Agriculture has lauded Rachael Blackmore's contribution to Irish sport following her recent retirement. Pic: David Davies – Pool/Getty Images Minister Martin Heydon praised Blackmore for her years of dedication, branding her a 'role model' for younger sports enthusiasts. 'I want to pay tribute to one of the greats of national hunt racing Rachael Blackmore on the announcement of her retirement from what has been a glittering career,' he began in an official statement. 'The list of achievements including her famous success in the 2021 Aintree Grand National ensure Rachael's place in history. We'll never forget her magnificent win on Minella Times in the world's most famous steeplechase as well as has seeing her claim the Cheltenham Gold Cup, one of 18 Cheltenham festival victories. Taking the leading jockey accolade in Cheltenham 5 years ago was yet another milestone she achieved. Confirming her retirement on Monday afternoon, Rachael took to social media and shared a touching statement with fans. Pic:'Rachael's legacy wasn't just in race wins, but as a role model for a whole generation of jockeys both female and male. In a sport where men and women complete on a level playing she excelled and is a fantastic ambassador for the horse racing and breeding industry,' he added. 'Her singular dedication brought her from ponies, to the point to point world, to Shark Hanlon's yard where she rode her first winner and became Champion Conditional rider, which then led onto Henry de Bromhead's stables where she achieved so much in Ireland and beyond. 'I would like to thank Rachael for all of the joy that she brought to so many, for representing all that is good in the Irish horse racing and breeding industry and congratulate her on being one of Ireland's greatest ever sports stars and horse racing ambassadors. 'I wish her the very best in the next chapter of her life, sure in the knowledge that she will be successful with whatever ventures she undertakes next.' Confirming her retirement on Monday afternoon, Rachael took to social media and shared: '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.' The 35-year-old noted that those she had to thank were 'endless.' The Tipperary native became the first female jockey to win the Grand National in 2021. She also became the first woman to be lead jockey at the Cheltenham Festival with six victories, including the Champion Hurdle in 2021. Pic:'Firstly, my parents who produced me with the best childhood and a pony I couldn't hold,' she shared, 'This set the seed for a life of racing.' The jockey paid tribute to Aidan Kennedy who she had her first point to point with as well as Arthur Moore and Pat Doyle who she spent time riding with in her early days. 'I rode my first winner for Shark Hanlon, who then helped me become Champion Conditional,' Rachael continued, '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 loos elsewhere. Minister Martin Heydon praised Blackmore for her years of dedication, branding her a 'role model' for younger sports enthusiasts. Pic:'He was the catalyst for what was to come.' Rachael explained how a 'conversation' between Eddie O'Leary and Henry de Bromhead on the way to Aintree took her career to a 'whole new level.' After getting in the door at Knockeen, she met horses including Honeysuckle, A Plus Tard, Minella Indo and Minella Times. 'All with one thing in common — Henry de Bromhead. He's a phenomenal trainer, who brought out the best in me,' Rachael praised, 'Without Henry, my story is very different.' The jockey then paid tribute to her sponsors over the years as well as her team at Knockeen who she said 'do such incredible work looking after all the horses.' 'To all the amazing doctors, surgeons and physios who looked after me over the years,' she added, 'To all the wonderful owners who trusted me and gave me the opportunity to do what I love doing. 'To everyone I shared the weight room with, I'll miss being in there with you.' Rachael's statement concluded, admitting that it was 'daunting' to no longer be referred to as a jockey. 'Who even am I now,' she joked, 'But I feel so incredible 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.'
The 42
12-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Ruby Walsh: 'Whilst she broke the glass ceiling, I don't know how many there are like Rachael'
RUBY WALSH HAS paid a glowing tribute to Rachael Blackmore, who called time on her glittering career as a jockey today. The Tipperary native enjoyed a ground-breaking 16-year career, including memorable wins at the Aintree Grand National in 2021 on Minella Times and in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on A Plus Tard in 2022. 'Rachael Blackmore is unique,' Walsh told RTÉ's Game On. 'We keep saying the first but she is the only woman to have won a Grand National, a Gold Cup, a Champion Hurdle, a Stayers' Hurdle, a Champion Chase. The only woman to be leading rider at the Cheltenham Festival. 'She did what all top sports people do. She made very few mistakes and that's the difference. She was very cool under pressure, calculated under pressure and just didn't get it wrong. Rachael was able to make fewer mistakes and that's what made her so good.' Walsh highlighted Blackmore's resilience as one of her outstanding qualities, noting how she recovered from injury to triumph in the Stayers' Hurdle with Bob Olinger earlier this year, completing the set of winning the four major Cheltenham races. Advertisement 'Being a National Hunt jockey is not an easy life,' Walsh continued. 'It's a tough sport and Rachael was unique. Men and women do get to compete on a level playing field but it's the physicality: the falling, the thumps off the ground, the speed of the impacts and being able to pick yourself up. 'Rachael Blackmore was able to fall and get up quicker than most men, and that's what made her different. She was like an elastic band. So resilient, so tough. Whilst she broke the glass ceiling and proved women can do it, I don't know how many there are like Rachael. 'To win a Grand National is incredible but to watch her come back from a pretty horrific hip injury… and then this year she proved more to me about herself than any of those victories. 'She got a fall in Killarney she described as a neck injury but when a National Hunt jockey walks around for three months in a neck brace you can be damn sure there's something broken. 'Being a jockey, you play for pay, if you're out there's no salary. She worked herself back into the position that was hers and came back to Cheltenham this year and won. 'With all she had achieved, she still had to start again and she did and got herself back to the very top. To take that dent in confidence and get back to where you were, I admire that.'
