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RTÉ News
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Henry de Bromhead on Rachael Blackmore: 'She'll be amazing at whatever she does'
Trainer Henry de Bromhead has revealed the role a conversation in the back of a taxi played in Rachael Blackmore becoming his most trusted ally, with the pair's fortunes rising in tandem to achieve stratospheric levels of success. On Monday, Blackmore announced her retirement from the saddle at the age of 35 after a remarkable career. The Tipperary woman's feats have often been framed in the context of female jockeys, with Blackmore becoming the first of her sex to win the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2021 on board Honeysuckle, a meeting where she was also crowned leading rider, and going on to claim the Grand National weeks later on Minella Times in an annus mirabilis. Blackmore's success on Bob Olinger in this season's Stayers' Hurdle saw her complete a Cheltenham Festival grand slam of championship races, joining Ruby Walsh and Barry Geraghty as the only jockeys to have booted him the winners of the Champion Hurdle, the Champion Chase, the Stayers' Hurdle and the Gold Cup during their illustrious careers. Her 18th and final Festival success on Bob Olinger (above) also elevated her to joint-ninth, alongside Richard Dunwoody, in the all-time winners record at the meeting. Reflecting on the news of Blackmore's retirement from his Knockeen base in County Waterford, De Bromhead told listeners of Tuesday's Morning Ireland on RTÉ: "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. 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 of her life and she's got so much more to do, but I've no doubt she'll be amazing at whatever she does." In the nascent stages of her career, there was little to suggest the success Blackmore would go on to enjoy. In the past, the rider herself has been self-effacing on her early efforts in the saddle, with her first winner under Rules coming at the comparatively late age of 21 on the Shark Hanlon-trained Stowaway Pearl at Thurles in 2011. However, the association with Hanlon (above) gave Blackmore the literal and figurative leg up that was to prove the catalyst in her career, even if her success story was to prove far from an overnight one. With the backing and encouragement of Hanlon, Blackmore turned professional on St Patrick's Day in 2015. It had been 25 years since a female rider had featured in the paid ranks in Ireland, with Maria Cullen the last woman to ride as a pro. The move followed a barren spell where Blackmore hadn't ridden a winner in six months and her first success as a professional didn't arrive until Most Honourable prevailed at Clonmel in September of that year. However, her career finally exploded into life during the 2016-17 season and she was crowned champion conditional rider at the age of 27 after booting home 32 winners. Blackmore rode her first winner in the maroon and white silks of Gigginstown House Stud in 2017 and Eddie O'Leary of the organisation extolled her virtues as he shared a taxi with De Bromhead to Aintree's Grand National meeting in 2018. "We had no stable jockey and we were just using the best available, and Eddie suggested trying Rachael. She'd ridden a good bit for them," De Bromhead explained. "She had one or two rides for me, but she'd ridden a good bit for Gigginstown and she'd just been champion conditional and said we'd give it a go – I really liked her profile and obviously had seen her riding all these winners. "There was no fixed job or anything. She just started riding for us and she just kept winning. Everyone wanted her after that and it went from strength to strength from there. "I don't think either of us ever thought that we'd achieve what we did together. "We've had some amazing times, but she's so much more to us – me and my family – than a jockey. "She is an amazing person and I'm delighted to see her go out on her terms." The trainer tragically lost his 13-year-old son, Jack, in a pony racing accident in September 2022. Six months later, Honeysuckle's (above) illustrious career came to a fairytale conclusion at Prestbury Park as the two-time Champion Hurdle winner bowed out with an emotional success in the Mares' Hurdle. "That was a big day for all of us, including her," De Bromhead admitted. "There was a lot of pressure and it was the mare's last run. "Personally and professionally it had been a really tough time, and it was amazing how she pulled it off with Honeysuckle.
Irish Daily Mirror
13-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Rachael Blackmore's net worth and the staggering amount of prize money she won
Rachael Blackmore has called time on her incredible career as a jockey. The Grand National-winning rider announced on Monday that she was retiring from the saddle with immediate effect as she penned a shock statement. Blackmore enjoyed many triumphant days, winning the Grand National in 2021 on Minella Times and tasting victory 18 times at the Cheltenham Festival, including in all four feature races - the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Stayers' Hurdle. She won the last of those races this year when partnering Bob Olinger to success on the Thursday of the famous meeting. It completed a 152/1 double on the day after Blackmore steered Air Of Entitlement to win the Mares' Novices' Hurdle earlier in the day. While the exact net worth of Blackmore remains undisclosed, she has reportedly raked in around €11million in prize money throughout her illustrious career, as per At The Races. According to the PJA, jockeys typically pocket about ten per cent of the winning prize. A substantial portion of these winnings, specifically €7m, were bagged in Ireland where she secured three Irish Champion Hurdles from 2021 to 2023 on the famed mare, Honeysuckle. Blackmore steered A Plus Tard to a whopping €420,000 in prize money when they clinched the Gold Cup in 2022. Another significant payday arrived in 2024 when Captain Guinness triumphed in the Champion Chase, scooping up €270k in the process. The jockey also netted over €218,000 for Bob Olinger's connections by winning the Stayers' Hurdle in March of this year. 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. Beyond those mounts already mentioned, Blackmore claimed victory in the Champion Bumper in 2021 with Sir Gerhard, while also guiding Quilixios to the Triumph Hurdle, Allaho to the Ryanair Chase, Bob Olinger to the Baring Bingham, and Telmesomethinggirl to the Mares' Novices Hurdle that year. In 2024, she seized her first win in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle on Slade Steel. Blackmore consistently demonstrates her ability to excel under pressure, asserting that it often leads to dazzling outcomes for her. Betfair ambassador Blackmore, praised the Cheltenham Festival for her series of fortunate events: "It's just been a very lucky place for me. I've got to ride some very good horses there, and you know Henry de Bromhead, his horses seem to go there and run fantastic races, and you're just very lucky when you get to be on their back. "I think riding, every jockey wants to ride on the big stage, in the big races, on the big days, and Cheltenham is our, it's been said before, it's our Olympics, and that's where every jockey starting off wants to get to, so I'm very lucky that I get to ride horses in Cheltenham and I feel like I'm in a very lucky position to get to do that. "Pressure is part of it, but you want to be under pressure because you know if you're under pressure, it means your horse has a very good chance, and they're the horses you want to be riding, so it is pressure, but you know you just have to deal with it and almost be grateful for it."
Irish Daily Mirror
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Those closest to Rachael Blackmore pay tribute as friend jokes what's next
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."
Rhyl Journal
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Rachael Blackmore announces retirement from riding
The 35-year-old made international headlines in 2021 when she teamed up with the Henry de Bromhead-trained Minella Times to win the world's greatest steeplechase at Aintree – the first woman to do so in the then 182-year history of the race. 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.' Prior to her Grand National triumph Blackmore had already become the first female jockey to win the Champion Hurdle aboard Honeysuckle that year and in 2022 she secured another first when steering A Plus Tard to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Having won the two-mile Champion Chase at the 2024 Festival with Captain Guinness, Bob Olinger's Stayers' Hurdle win in March meant Blackmore ticked off the final championship event at Cheltenham – a feat very few jockeys complete during their career and putting Blackmore further out on her own among female riders. Her statement continued: 'The people to thank are endless, it's not possible to mention everyone (as I don't want this to be another book) but I'm going to get a few names in here anyway and to everyone else, you know who you are, as they say. '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. Aidan Kennedy gave me my first ride in a point-to-point. I spent time riding out for Arthur Moore and Pat Doyle which I loved. Sam Curling and Liam Lennon were also big supporters as was Denise O' Shea, John Nicholson, Ellmarie Holden, Harry Smyth and Gigginstown House Stud. '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 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. 'To my sponsors over the years. Dornan, KPMG, Volvo, Betfair, PCI Insurance, thank you for your support. To Garry Cribbin, who looked after me as my agent since day one with professionalism and friendship. To Rebecca Matthews who managed (and hopefully will continue to manage!) the non-horse related requests. To Willie Mullins who provided me with success throughout my career. 'To all the team in Knockeen who do such incredible work looking after all the horses, without you and all the stable staff across the country, winners don't happen. To Davy Roche, whose help was invaluable when I was privileged enough to have a choice in a race. 'To all the amazing doctors, surgeons and physios who looked after me over the years. To all the wonderful owners who trusted me and gave me the opportunity to do what I love doing. To everyone I shared the weigh room with, I'll miss being in there with you. '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. '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.' Blackmore rode her first winner as a professional in 2015 and bows out with 18 Cheltenham Festival victories on her CV. She had been booked to ride at Sligo and Tipperary in the coming days but her decision to retire with immediate effect means Blackmore's final career success came aboard Ma Belle Etoile, fittingly trained by her long-time ally De Bromhead, at Cork on Saturday.
San Francisco Chronicle
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Rachael Blackmore, the first female Grand National-winning jockey, has retired
LONDON (AP) — Rachael Blackmore, the first female jockey to win the Grand National, retired from horse racing on Monday with immediate effect. The 35-year-old Blackmore became globally renowned in 2021 when she rode Minella Times to victory in the famous jumps race at Aintree. A year after that Grand National triumph, Blackmore secured another first for a female jockey when riding A Plus Tard to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Winning the Champion Chase at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival meant Blackmore won all of the championship events at the prestigious meeting across her career — a feat very few jockeys complete and which put her further out on her own among female riders. Blackmore rode her first winner as a professional in 2015 and bows out with 18 Cheltenham Festival victories. 'My days of being a jockey have come to an end," she said in a statement. '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.' Blackmore said it was 'daunting' to not be able to say she was a jockey. 'Who even am I now!' she said. "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.' Blackmore's final career success came on Saturday aboard Ma Belle Etoile — fittingly trained by her long-time ally, trainer Henry de Bromhead — at Cork. ___
