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Irish Daily Mirror
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Rachael Blackmore described as an 'unintentional trailblazer' and 'pioneer'
Rachael Blackmore's professional riding career stretched to a little over 10 years. But she bows out leaving few big-race boxes unticked. Daughter of a dairy farmer and a school teacher, Blackmore became an unintentional trailblazer as she racked up an ever-expanding list of firsts during what has been an exceptional time in the weighing room. She had to earn her own leg-up on the pony racing circuit which has seen so many before her cut their teeth. But she also competed in other equestrian events and studied for a degree in equine science at the University of Limerick, with her mother, Eimir, encouraging her to pursue her studies as she felt a full-time riding career was unlikely. Blackmore rode her first amateur winner for John 'Shark' Hanlon at Thurles in February 2011, and it was he who encouraged her to make the leap. He provided her with a first professional victory, too, at Clonmel on September 3, 2015. By her own admission, Blackmore was an 'extremely average' amateur and felt the best way to change her outlook was to turn professional in search of more rides and in turn more success. Her hardworking attitude was duly rewarded when she was crowned champion Irish conditional in 2017 – her first first – a year which would prove pivotal as having ridden regularly for Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud, his racing manager and brother, Eddie, recommended Blackmore to trainer Henry de Bromhead while in the back of a taxi on the way to Aintree. And so one of racing's most successful partnerships was born. The duo enjoyed a plethora of big-race success together, but Blackmore's headline victories can be distilled to three horses to hail from the Knockeen yard – Honeysuckle, A Plus Tard and Minella Times. That is not to demean the likes of other Festival heroes such Captain Guinness, Bob Olinger, Envoi Allen, Quilixios et al or any of Blackmore's other glories, it just that particular trio has obliged on the very grandest of stages. Her relationship with Honeysuckle spanned the first of the mare's 19 races to her last, with De Bromhead describing the duo as 'a perfect storm' of Blackmore's brilliance and Honeysuckle's 'deadly' talent. Their Champion Hurdle triumph in 2021 marked a breakthrough for a female rider in a Festival showpiece, though De Bromhead was quick to underline that Blackmore's ability should not be viewed in gender terms – a sentiment echoed by the rider herself. She said at the time: 'There's no deal about it. If you want to be a jockey, you can be a jockey. Drive on.' That was to become her theme as she continued to smash down the barriers, not least when achieving worldwide fame via Minella Times' Grand National victory, exclaiming: 'I don't feel male or female – I don't even feel human! This is unbelievable.' It perhaps speaks volumes that by the time Blackmore won the Cheltenham Gold Cup aboard A Plus Tard the following year, while her sex remained the headline in the news pages, you had to read a few paragraphs down in the racing section before the fact it was a first win for a female rider was even mentioned. Blackmore was merely seen by those in the know as one of the best in the weighing room, end of discussion. The attention that went with superstar status did not always sit well with Blackmore, who is not one to naturally put herself forward, preferring to do her talking on the track. Her mother hailed her determination and humility, adding: 'Despite the successes, Rachael remains true to herself. It's no good having success if you aren't a decent human being'. Indeed, De Bromhead found Blackmore a huge support following the tragic death of his 13-year-old son, Jack, in a pony racing accident in September 2022. He said: 'To see her around when we had our tragedy, around the children and with their friends and all of us – she's an incredible person apart from being a brilliant jockey.' There was hardly a dry eye in the house when Honeysuckle signed off her fairytale career with Mares' Hurdle success just six months after the accident and Blackmore's first thought was for Jack after crossing the line, on what was a hugely emotional day all around. It would be fair to say Blackmore has become a fan favourite, too, with no better illustration than the support that saw her 2023 Grand National mount Ain't That A Shame sent off at just 10-1 despite having only won a moderate beginners' chase and his owner Brian Acheson declaring him to be 'useless'. An inspiration to plenty of young racing fans, whether she enjoys the tag or not, Blackmore bows out as a genuine game changer.
Glasgow Times
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Blackmore retires a pioneer who broke new ground
Daughter of a dairy farmer and a school teacher, Blackmore became an unintentional trailblazer as she racked up an ever-expanding list of firsts during what has been an exceptional time in the weighing room. She had to earn her own leg-up on the pony racing circuit which has seen so many before her cut their teeth. But she also competed in other equestrian events and studied for a degree in equine science at the University of Limerick, with her mother, Eimir, encouraging her to pursue her studies as she felt a full-time riding career was unlikely. Blackmore rode her first amateur winner for John 'Shark' Hanlon at Thurles in February 2011, and it was he who encouraged her to make the leap. He provided her with a first professional victory, too, at Clonmel on September 3, 2015. Grand National glory gave Blackmore global fame (Tim Goode/PA) By her own admission, Blackmore was an 'extremely average' amateur and felt the best way to change her outlook was to turn professional in search of more rides and in turn more success. Her hardworking attitude was duly rewarded when she was crowned champion Irish conditional in 2017 – her first first – a year which would prove pivotal as having ridden regularly for Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud, his racing manager and brother, Eddie, recommended Blackmore to trainer Henry de Bromhead while in the back of a taxi on the way to Aintree. And so one of racing's most successful partnerships was born. The duo enjoyed a plethora of big-race success together, but Blackmore's headline victories can be distilled to three horses to hail from the Knockeen yard – Honeysuckle, A Plus Tard and Minella Times. That is not to demean the likes of other Festival heroes such Captain Guinness, Bob Olinger, Envoi Allen, Quilixios et al or any of Blackmore's other glories, it just that particular trio has obliged on the very grandest of stages. Honeysuckle and Blackmore were a match made in heaven (David Davies/Jockey club) Her relationship with Honeysuckle spanned the first of the mare's 19 races to her last, with De Bromhead describing the duo as 'a perfect storm' of Blackmore's brilliance and Honeysuckle's 'deadly' talent. Their Champion Hurdle triumph in 2021 marked a breakthrough for a female rider in a Festival showpiece, though De Bromhead was quick to underline that Blackmore's ability should not be viewed in gender terms – a sentiment echoed by the rider herself. She said at the time: 'There's no deal about it. If you want to be a jockey, you can be a jockey. Drive on.' That was to become her theme as she continued to smash down the barriers, not least when achieving worldwide fame via Minella Times' Grand National victory, exclaiming: 'I don't feel male or female – I don't even feel human! This is unbelievable.' Rachael Blackmore celebrates aboard Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard (David Davies/PA It perhaps speaks volumes that by the time Blackmore won the Cheltenham Gold Cup aboard A Plus Tard the following year, while her sex remained the headline in the news pages, you had to read a few paragraphs down in the racing section before the fact it was a first win for a female rider was even mentioned. Blackmore was merely seen by those in the know as one of the best in the weighing room, end of discussion. The attention that went with superstar status did not always sit well with Blackmore, who is not one to naturally put herself forward, preferring to do her talking on the track. Her mother hailed her determination and humility, adding: 'Despite the successes, Rachael remains true to herself. It's no good having success if you aren't a decent human being'. Honeysuckle's perfect farewell sparked emotional scenes at Cheltenham in 2023 (Tim Goode/PA) Indeed, De Bromhead found Blackmore a huge support following the tragic death of his 13-year-old son, Jack, in a pony racing accident in September 2022. He said: 'To see her around when we had our tragedy, around the children and with their friends and all of us – she's an incredible person apart from being a brilliant jockey.' There was hardly a dry eye in the house when Honeysuckle signed off her fairytale career with Mares' Hurdle success just six months after the accident and Blackmore's first thought was for Jack after crossing the line, on what was a hugely emotional day all around. It would be fair to say Blackmore has become a fan favourite, too, with no better illustration than the support that saw her 2023 Grand National mount Ain't That A Shame sent off at just 10-1 despite having only won a moderate beginners' chase and his owner Brian Acheson declaring him to be 'useless'. An inspiration to plenty of young racing fans, whether she enjoys the tag or not, Blackmore bows out as a genuine game changer.
Irish Independent
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Rachael Blackmore retires as a pioneering trailblazer who broke new ground
Daughter of a dairy farmer and a school teacher, Blackmore became an unintentional trailblazer as she racked up an ever-expanding list of firsts during what has been an exceptional time in the weighing room. She had to earn her own leg-up on the pony racing circuit which has seen so many before her cut their teeth. But she also competed in other equestrian events and studied for a degree in equine science at the University of Limerick, with her mother, Eimir, encouraging her to pursue her studies as she felt a full-time riding career was unlikely. Blackmore rode her first amateur winner for John 'Shark' Hanlon at Thurles in February 2011, and it was he who encouraged her to make the leap. He provided her with a first professional victory, too, at Clonmel on September 3, 2015. By her own admission, Blackmore was an "extremely average" amateur and felt the best way to change her outlook was to turn professional in search of more rides and in turn more success. Her hardworking attitude was duly rewarded when she was crowned champion Irish conditional in 2017 - her first first - a year which would prove pivotal as having ridden regularly for Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud, his racing manager and brother, Eddie, recommended Blackmore to trainer Henry de Bromhead while in the back of a taxi on the way to Aintree. And so one of racing's most successful partnerships was born. The duo enjoyed a plethora of big-race success together, but Blackmore's headline victories can be distilled to three horses to hail from the Knockeen yard - Honeysuckle, A Plus Tard and Minella Times. That is not to demean the likes of other Festival heroes such Captain Guinness, Bob Olinger, Envoi Allen, Quilixios et al or any of Blackmore's other glories, it just that particular trio has obliged on the very grandest of stages. Her relationship with Honeysuckle spanned the first of the mare's 19 races to her last, with De Bromhead describing the duo as "a perfect storm" of Blackmore's brilliance and Honeysuckle's "deadly" talent. Their Champion Hurdle triumph in 2021 marked a breakthrough for a female rider in a Festival showpiece, though De Bromhead was quick to underline that Blackmore's ability should not be viewed in gender terms - a sentiment echoed by the rider herself. ADVERTISEMENT She said at the time: "There's no deal about it. If you want to be a jockey, you can be a jockey. Drive on." That was to become her theme as she continued to smash down the barriers, not least when achieving worldwide fame via Minella Times' Grand National victory, exclaiming: "I don't feel male or female - I don't even feel human! This is unbelievable." It perhaps speaks volumes that by the time Blackmore won the Cheltenham Gold Cup aboard A Plus Tard the following year, while her sex remained the headline in the news pages, you had to read a few paragraphs down in the racing section before the fact it was a first win for a female rider was even mentioned. Blackmore was merely seen by those in the know as one of the best in the weighing room, end of discussion. The attention that went with superstar status did not always sit well with Blackmore, who is not one to naturally put herself forward, preferring to do her talking on the track. Her mother hailed her determination and humility, adding: "Despite the successes, Rachael remains true to herself. It's no good having success if you aren't a decent human being". Indeed, De Bromhead found Blackmore a huge support following the tragic death of his 13-year-old son, Jack, in a pony racing accident in September 2022. He said: "To see her around when we had our tragedy, around the children and with their friends and all of us - she's an incredible person apart from being a brilliant jockey." There was hardly a dry eye in the house when Honeysuckle signed off her fairytale career with Mares' Hurdle success just six months after the accident and Blackmore's first thought was for Jack after crossing the line, on what was a hugely emotional day all around. It would be fair to say Blackmore has become a fan favourite, too, with no better illustration than the support that saw her 2023 Grand National mount Ain't That A Shame sent off at just 10-1 despite having only won a moderate beginners' chase and his owner Brian Acheson declaring him to be "useless". An inspiration to plenty of young racing fans, whether she enjoys the tag or not, Blackmore bows out as a genuine game changer.
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Blackmore - the humble pioneer who transformed racing
"I don't feel male or female right now. I don't even feel human."A memorable line from Rachael Blackmore after she became the first female jockey to win the Grand National when triumphing on Minella Times in she retires from the saddle aged 35, Blackmore can rightly be called a game changer who was among the best of her a sport in which male and female riders compete on a level playing field, punters did not focus on whether she was a man or woman. She was just a top self-effacing pioneer went about setting landmarks with a quiet humility as the first woman to:Win the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, with Honeysuckle, in 2021Become the Cheltenham Festival meeting's leading rider, in the same yearLand the Cheltenham Gold Cup, with A Plus Tard in 2022 Win the National a few weeks later The daughter of a dairy farmer and a school teacher, she rode ponies as a child near her home in Killenaule, County Tipperary, in the Republic of gained a degree in equine science with hopes of becoming a vet but combined her studies with riding out and competing as an first winner came aboard Stowaway Pearl for John 'Shark' Hanlon at Thurles in 2011, and she turned professional four years of her success came through an association with trainer Henry de Bromhead, while some of her early opportunities can be attributed to Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary and his Gigginstown House Stud team."We identified Rachael early on as a very good jockey - not a female jockey - and we put her on all the Gigginstown Horses with Henry and Joseph [O'Brien]," he said after her National victory."Her hard work and intelligence has done all the rest." Instinct, timing, tactical awareness and strength all played a part in her story. But also the ability to bounce back from falls and injury, plus sheer hard she rode six winners to be leading jockey at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, she may not have returned to grand fanfare at a meeting held behind closed doors because of Covid-19 restrictions, but the impact was still felt. Her tally was more than the entire British training Blackmore, and fellow jockeys Lizzie Kelly and Bryony Frost, successes for female jockeys at Cheltenham were a rarity and largely came through amateur riders Katie Walsh and Nina Walsh, Carberry and Kelly now retired and Frost moving to France after finding opportunities limited since winning a bullying case against fellow jockey Robbie Dunne, it will be interesting to see if other women can rise to the fore in jump two days ago, Hollie Doyle passed Hayley Turner's record for winners by a female jockey on the Flat, but Blackmore was only of only two professional women - the other being Isobel Williams - riding at this year's Cheltenham Festival. While Blackmore has not outlined the reasons for her retirement, Walsh and Carberry stopped at similar ages before starting ended their careers with winners at Ireland's showpiece Punchestown Festival and maybe Blackmore intended to do the same, but she unusually ended the recent meeting without a suffered a bad neck injury in a fall earlier this season and only returned to action in December after three months took success for women to another level, competing for a historic Irish champion jockey title before twice finishing runner-up to Paul achievements transcended racing. Victory in the National, watched by an estimated 500 million people worldwide, made headlines around the globe, and she was voted World Sport Star at the 2021 BBC Sports Personality awards."The support has been incredible. I got such a kick out of being on that list of nominees," she nominees included tennis star Novak Djokovic, boxing great Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and American football quarterback Tom whose partner Brian Hayes is also a jockey, did not revel in the limelight - she preferred to get on with the business of riding winners - but spoke thoughtfully when Bromhead said she was a great support after his 13-year-old son Jack died in a riding accident in September pair's victory with Honeysuckle in the horse's swansong in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March 2023 sparked jubilant and emotional grabbed every vantage point to cheer the winner into the paddock. The roars were for the trainer and horse, but the rider too. Just mention the name 'Rachael' at the races, and everyone knew who you Honeysuckle in the winner's enclosure, a rainbow appeared on the horizon."We all wish a very special kid could be here today but he's watching down on us," said partnership with Honeysuckle was a great match. Seventeen wins from 19 races, including four at the Cheltenham Festival. All with the same jockey on will be remembered for a series of firsts, and potentially paving the way for others."Ah, look, it's brilliant, but I won't be the last. I'm delighted for myself anyway," she said after winning the National."I just hope it shows it doesn't matter, male or female. Plenty of people have gone before me and done that - Katie Walsh was third here on Seabass. All those things help girls coming along, but I don't think it's a major talking point any more."When Blackmore won the Gold Cup on A Plus Tard, she earned praise from the Cheltenham Festival's all-time leading rider Ruby Walsh."She's inspiring kids everywhere. It's incredible the interest she's driving in the sport. You need role models like that for the sport and the industry, she's box office," he the 'This Girl Can' campaign, launched 10 years ago, encouraged more women to be active, Rachael Blackmore wanted to realise a dream of being at the summit of her sport. This girl did.
RTÉ News
02-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Shock Triumph winner Poniros poised for Punchestown
Poniros and Lulamba are set for a rematch in the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown. The latter, trained by Nicky Henderson, was the second-favourite when the two horses met previously in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, with Willie Mullins' Poniros sent off a 100-1 shot on his hurdling bow. It was therefore a major surprise when he pounced to score by a neck from Lulamba and now the two cross paths again. Henderson said of his runner: "He's only had two runs this season so he can afford another one. He's very, very fresh and well in himself so we'd thought we would give it a go and try to end the season on a high. "I think he's improving, but there is every reason to believe Willie's horse will improve as well, but we'll have the rematch and see if we can get them to flip-flop." Sean Graham, racing manager to Poniros' owner Tony Bloom, said of their gelding: "It's not going to be easy, it looks tough enough without Lulamba and with him in there we will have to be on our A game to win it. "Lulamba had one run in France and won so easily that he probably didn't really have a race, the first time he's been asked to come off the bridle was probably in the Triumph Hurdle and we beat him a neck. "The fancied horses in the Triumph were at each other's necks a long way out and maybe that's why we were able to pick them off and come through to win. "Poniros will have to improve from that, but we are very hopeful." Hello Neighbour was sixth in the Triumph, and like Poniros and Lulamba lines up a fresh horse having skipped the Grand National meeting at Aintree. "He just didn't work well enough for us in his last bit of work before Aintree, so that's why he didn't travel over there," said trainer Gavin Cromwell. "I suppose he had a hard race at Cheltenham and it was off the back of the Grade Two win on his debut at Christmas and then the Dublin Racing Festival. We just said we'd give him a chance. "It was a very quick turnaround this year from Cheltenham to Aintree and when you're borderline on sending him, I'm glad we didn't as that might have left a mark on him and we have Punchestown to look forward to now." On the same card Gordon Elliott's Brighterdaysahead looks to return to form in the SBK Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle. The six-year-old was a considered a real threat to the headline acts in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, but along with Constitution Hill and State Man, her luck was not in and she could only finish a well-beaten fourth. Aintree was bypassed and she arrives at Punchestown fresh and ready to put her uncharacteristic Cheltenham run behind her. "Hopefully she's well, she hasn't done an awful lot since Cheltenham, but Gordon is happy with her and we hope she'll be lucky," said Eddie O'Leary of owners Gigginstown House Stud. "She wasn't right after Cheltenham, that was wasn't her at all, so hopefully we'll see a better effort here." Watch the Punchestown Festival from Tuesday to Saturday with RTÉ Sport. Coverage begins at 3.30pm for first three days and on Friday at 4pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Watch on Saturday from 3pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
