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Irish Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Rachael Blackmore gives rare insight into her personal life following retirement
Rachael Blackmore has given a rare insight into her personal life and relationship with jockey Brian Hayes following her retirement from the saddle. The Grand National and Gold Cup-winning rider called time on her career last month. Blackmore 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 a statement last month, the Tipperary native 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.' Expanding on her decision, she told Betfair: '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?' '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 until June and get to the jockeys' break. I'd think about it all then.' Blackmore is in a long-term relationship with Brian Hayes. Though the couple keeps their personal life mostly out of the public eye, she did open up about their shared home life in a 2021 interview. "I live with two other jockeys, Patrick Mullins and Brian Hayes," she revealed. "It's a great house, located in Leighlinbridge, Carlow, close to all the big tracks in Ireland." She added: "We don't talk about racing half as much as people think. It's just a normal house when we come home." Blackmore recently shared a number of photos on Instagram, showing her enjoying a holiday, dinner, and social events with her friends and family, including Hayes. The trailblazer says she has not set plans despite retiring, but admits she will have 'a very different life' to the one she had previously. '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 that Saturday, there is nothing set up but I am very lucky that I can take a few weeks and decide what might be next,' she said. 'It will be a very different life to the one I had previously."
The Irish Sun
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘Hate to be in his position' – Nicky Henderson waves goodbye to £650,000 of horses as top owner scales down operation
NICKY HENDERSON waved goodbye to £650,000 worth of horses at the sales - as a top owner scaled down his operation significantly. A total of six Olly Harris-owned horses went under the hammer under the banner of Henderson's Seven Barrows yard at the Goffs Doncaster auction. 2 Nicky Henderson sold a load of horses owned by Olly Harris at the Doncaster sales Credit: Getty 2 Prominent owner Harris has sold a load of horses this year, many of them in training with Henderson Chief among them was three-time winner and hugely promising sort Kingston Pride. Bought for around £160,000 in April 2023, Henderson fought tooth and nail to keep the six-year-old at his yard. But in an almighty sales ring tussle with rival trainer Olly Murphy, he had to give up the fight when the figure hit £285,000. Kingston Pride - who will now be owned by Grahame and Diana Whateley of Thomas Darby fame - was one of two Harris horses that went for six figures. The other was Haddex Des Obeaux, who never actually ran under Henderson but was still listed as being in his care after eight runs for Gary Moore. The eight-year-old gelding, who was last seen finishing third to Jonbon in the Tingle Creek, was bought for £105,000 by prominent Scottish owner Jimmy Fyffe and will now be trained by Donald McCain. But Kingston Pride - who Hendo called a 'really proper type' after his latest win at Kempton in March - was the one the legendary boss really wanted. He had to bid farewell, though, when Murphy struck the crucial blow. Most read in Horse Racing The bet365 Gold Cup-winning trainer said: "It's unfortunate for Nicky, I'd hate to be in the position he's in when you train a horse like that and don't get to keep him. "But he's the horse we wanted for the last three days. "He was a lot of money but hopefully he's the sort of horse who can run in graded chases at the middle distance and staying chases down the line." The setback came after And he also had to say goodbye to Timetoshine - a serial-winning mare who is off to the US - for £145,000. Among the other Harris horses consigned by Henderson was Willmount, whose value plummeted by £320,000 since he was last sold. Having won a Newbury novice hurdle by 13 lengths on his first run for Henderson, Willmount was sent off 9-4 for the Grade 1 2023 Challow. But he was pulled up and then fell on chase debut almost a year later before flopping when 6-4 fav for a Kempton handicap hurdle on his most recent run in December last year. Purchased for £340,000 in February 2022 he was sold to Irish Grand National and National Hunt Chase-winning trainer Rebecca Curtis for just £22,000. Chris Gordon bought two-time winner Bo Zenith for £55,000, while Inneston (who is closely related to Cheltenham Festival winners Delta Work and Jazzy Matty) and Diyaken were sold for £15,000 and £20,000 respectively. Harris - who While he also gave up ownership of In The Air, Kansas Du Berlais, Montys Soldier and Perseus Way this year too. Minella Premier, a £400,000 purchase by Henderson at the same sale last year, has never run for the Seven Barrows boss and was originally listed for sale before being withdrawn. FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Read more on the Irish Sun Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
Irish Daily Mirror
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Katie Walsh calls Rachael Blackmore an 'inspiration' after announcing retirement
Katie Walsh has hailed Rachael Blackmore as an 'inspiration' who set new benchmarks for female riders after the Grand National and Gold Cup-winning jockey announced her retirement from the saddle on Monday. Blessed with supreme talent, Walsh believes every highlight of Blackmore's glittering career has been thoroughly deserved after she brought the curtain down with one final winner for long-time ally Henry de Bromhead at Cork on Saturday. Walsh told the PA news agency: 'Every opportunity she was given, she grabbed with two hands and she had a marvellous career. 'She would do very little wrong and all she would do is get better and better and better. She always had her homework done and knew exactly what she was doing. 'Her Cheltenham Festival winners were provided by Willie Mullins and Henry de Bromhead and to think she had the support of the champion trainer and another right at the top of the game was testament to her ability – and she also had an association with plenty of the big owners like Gigginstown. 'She had a great way of reading races, she was strong both physically and mentally and would line up there with the best of them every day of the week and she was just an inspiration as a human being, she was just absolutely brilliant.' It was once Walsh herself and contemporary Nina Carberry who were seen as the trailblazers for women in the weighing room, but Blackmore's achievements have rewritten the record books and surpassed the stellar accomplishments of her predecessors. The 35-year-old bows out with 18 Cheltenham Festival victories and as well as her historic Gold Cup triumph aboard A Plus Tard in 2022, is amongst a select number of riders to have held aloft all four trophies of jump racing's blue riband, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, Champion Hurdle and Stayers' Hurdle. Blackmore also eclipsed Walsh's then third-placed record finish by a female in the Grand National when becoming the first woman jockey in the 182-year history of the Aintree marathon to win the race aboard Minella Times in 2021, with Walsh highlighting a supreme dedication to her craft which allowed glass ceilings to be shattered. Walsh continued: 'It's been great to witness some of those great days and she's a star person and a perfect example to any young jockey starting out in the game – if you do what Rachael Blackmore does and you are good enough, success will come. 'She was extremely dedicated and worked very, very hard and you don't get anywhere in this industry without working hard – and that's what she did. 'She is a lovely person and she never changed a bit from the moment she started to the moment she finished and I'm delighted she gets to retire on her own terms.' Blackmore was once the Pony Club protege who became an unintentional superstar of sport, but despite somewhat humble beginnings, her record is backed to stand the test of time, with Walsh – whose brother Ruby is one of the most decorated riders of all time – feeling her name is more than worthy of being mentioned amongst the greats of racing. 'I can't see anyone in my lifetime that might surpass Rachael's achievements,' added Walsh. 'At this moment in time, there is nobody, but that's not to say that someone won't come through – you would not have predicted this would happen 10 or 15 years ago. 'Who knows and that's the beauty of it, but I'm just glad I was there for it and saw it all from the start to the finish – and in years to come, if no one else does come along, I can say I remember Rachael Blackmore and I know how her story started and how it finished.' There have also been tributes paid from the world of Flat racing, where Hollie Doyle – fresh from passing Hayley Turner to become the most successful British female jockey at Ascot on Saturday – assessed the incomparable legacy Blackmore leaves and the impact she has had on the sport as a whole. 'She's obviously been a huge trailblazer and she's just a great jockey,' said Doyle. 'What she's done for everyone in racing really has been great and it's been a great lift really over the last few years to have someone like her do what she's done. 'She's done it all, hasn't she? She's ticked every box and I suppose shut down any questions that were asked. I think it's even harder in National Hunt racing and she has done it all. 'Henry de Bromhead has obviously been a great supporter and gave her the ammunition, but she's been a great jockey and I think she's proved a lot of people wrong.'
Daily Mirror
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
One-eyed horse delights fans with sixth victory at his favourite track
Giovanni Change has competed in 46 races for trainer Mark Walford, with 20 of them at the Lincolnshire circuit the chaser adores. A real yard favourite, the ten-year-old is also admired by many racing supporters Thriving one-eyed horse Giovanni Change has brought more joy to his supporters by racing to a sixth win at his favourite track. The ten-year-old grey took up his usual prominent spot in a three-mile handicap chase at Market Rasen on Friday and went clear of rival Cant Buy History with one fence to jump. It was Giovanni Change's second win on the trot at a course he first took to four years ago, after trainer Mark Walford purchased him from the sales. "He has gone from strength the strength," he said. "He loves Market Rasen as it's only two hours from home and it's the correct way round, as he has his right eye. On his day he will run his heart out for you. As the years have gone on he has become older and wiser." Originally in the care of Emmet Mullins in Ireland, the son of French Fifteen was off the mark straight away in a Killarney bumper. But he took some time to flourish when Walford bought him and he had been in his yard for more than a year before he hit the target in a Market Rasen handicap hurdle in April 2021. "He was blind in one eye when we bought him and was a bad box-walker," Walford said. "it took him a little while to find his way here. "In a normal stable he cant be trained so he lives in an outdoor one. Funnily enough he won't go anywhere in front at home, but he loves to lead at the track." Walford revealed how his yard favourite could have been on-course for a hat-trick yesterday, after he lost a Wetherby race narrowly in unfortunate circumstances. "The winner challenged him on his blind side," he added. "He can see another horse with his other eye if it's half-a-length in front. That time he just didn't have the chance to battle back." Racing TV shared footage of Giovanni Change's latest triumph, where he is seen walking around the parade ring with his ears pricked and galloping five lengths clear in the steeplechase event under Danny McMenamin. "This horse is so special everybody's favourite," one social media user wrote in response to it. While another person added: "Great horse he doesn't let him missing an eye stop him from racing amazing." Suzy Smith-trained Material World was another one-eyed horse wonder, winning plenty of races before she signed off in the 2008 World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. And Wren's Breath charged home when in the clear to secure a 2021 Listed event at Naas for Grand National and Gold Cup-winning handler Henry de Bromhead.
