Latest news with #GrandNationalHorseRacing
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rachael Blackmore, the first female Grand National-winning jockey, has retired
FILE- Jockey Rachael Blackmore looks on after winning the Poundland Top Novices' Hurdle, on horse Inthepocket, during the Ladies' Day at Aintree Racecourse Liverpool, England, Friday, April 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Jon Super, file) FILE - Rachael Blackmore ridding Minella Times celebrates after winning the Randox Grand National Handicap Chase on the third day of the Grand National Horse Racing meeting at Aintree racecourse, near Liverpool, England, Saturday April 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, file) FILE - Rachael Blackmore ridding Minella Times celebrates after winning the Randox Grand National Handicap Chase on the third day of the Grand National Horse Racing meeting at Aintree racecourse, near Liverpool, England, Saturday April 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, file) FILE- Jockey Rachael Blackmore looks on after winning the Poundland Top Novices' Hurdle, on horse Inthepocket, during the Ladies' Day at Aintree Racecourse Liverpool, England, Friday, April 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Jon Super, file) FILE - Rachael Blackmore ridding Minella Times celebrates after winning the Randox Grand National Handicap Chase on the third day of the Grand National Horse Racing meeting at Aintree racecourse, near Liverpool, England, Saturday April 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, file) 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. Advertisement 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.' Advertisement 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. ___ AP sports:
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Grand National horse Celebre d'Allen died after developing respiratory infection
Horses compete in the Randox Grand National Handicap Steeple Chase race on the third day of the Grand National Horse Racing meeting at Aintree racecourse, near Liverpool, England, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson) LONDON (AP) — A severe respiratory infection is likely to have contributed to the death of Grand National runner Celebre d'Allen, according to the findings of the post-mortem released Thursday. The post-mortem also acknowledged that the 13-year-old horse's immune system was 'severely compromised' after running the gruelling jumps race on Saturday. Advertisement Celebre d'Allen, a 125-1 shot for the National, was pulled up by jockey Micheal Nolan after the last of the 30 fences. The horse then collapsed on the racecourse. After receiving treatment on the course, he walked into the horse ambulance and was taken to the racecourse stables for further assessment. Although his owners were positive regarding his recovery on Sunday, his condition deteriorated and he died on Monday. Celebre d'Allen was sent for a post-mortem, which found that the bacterial infection — pleuropneumonia — developed after the race and led to the horse's deterioration. The subsequent onset of sepsis or endotoxaemia — described as the release of harmful substances into the bloodstream from bacteria — is 'likely to have been a key factor in the cause of death,' said the British Horseracing Authority, which said it was granted permission by Celebre d'Allen's trainer and owner to publish the key findings. The 'exercise-associated episode" experienced by the horse after the race had concluded by the time of his death, according to the post-mortem, the BHA said. Advertisement 'Further bloods taken on the Monday indicated a severely compromised immune system," the BHA added. 'These indications had not been present in the bloods taken on the day of the race. This indicates that this issue emerged subsequent to the race and the exercise-associated episode.' Raceday stewards suspended Nolan for 10 days after concluding he 'had continued in the race when the horse appeared to have no more to give and was clearly losing ground after the second-last fence." Iain Green, director of animal-welfare activist Animal Aid, described the length of the suspension as 'pitiful." The Grand National has long been regarded as one of the most dangerous horse races in the world because of the size of the fences. A number of new measures — including reducing the field from 40 to 34 runners and bringing forward the race's start time — were introduced last year in an attempt to make it safer. ___ AP sports:
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Grand National runner Celebre D'Allen dies after collapsing during the race
Racegoers fill the stands during the second race on the third day of the Grand National Horse Racing meeting at Aintree racecourse, near Liverpool, England, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson) Horses compete in the second race on the third day of the Grand National Horse Racing meeting at Aintree racecourse, near Liverpool, England, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson) Horses compete in the Randox Grand National Handicap Steeple Chase race on the third day of the Grand National Horse Racing meeting at Aintree racecourse, near Liverpool, England, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson) Horses compete in the Randox Grand National Handicap Steeple Chase race on the third day of the Grand National Horse Racing meeting at Aintree racecourse, near Liverpool, England, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson) Racegoers fill the stands during the second race on the third day of the Grand National Horse Racing meeting at Aintree racecourse, near Liverpool, England, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson) Horses compete in the second race on the third day of the Grand National Horse Racing meeting at Aintree racecourse, near Liverpool, England, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson) Horses compete in the Randox Grand National Handicap Steeple Chase race on the third day of the Grand National Horse Racing meeting at Aintree racecourse, near Liverpool, England, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson) A horse that collapsed on the racecourse after running in the Grand National has died, the British Horseracing Authority confirmed on Tuesday. Celebre D'Allen — a 125-1 outsider in the storied British jumps race on Saturday — was pulled up in the latter stages before collapsing. After receiving treatment on the course, he walked into the horse ambulance and was taken to the racecourse stables for further assessment. Advertisement The 13-year-old horse was moved on Sunday to a nearby stud connected to his owner after showing an improvement in his condition, the BHA said in a statement, but died on Monday. BHA chief executive Brant Dunshea said his organization was 'saddened' to learn of the death of Celebre D'Allen and defended its health and safety processes, before and after the running of the Grand National. There is 'an extensive process of checks to ensure a horse's suitability to race in the National,' Dunshea said, 'which also includes a review of veterinary records and assessment by a panel of experts to consider a horse's race record and suitability to race.' Dunshea said the BHA and Aintree racecourse will analyze the race and Celebre D'Allen's collapse, adding that the horse will be sent for post-mortem. Advertisement Britain's Press Association reported on Tuesday that stewards at Aintree suspended jockey Michael Nolan for 10 days after inquiring into his decision to continue to ride Celebre d'Allen after jumping the next-to-last fence in the National. 'The jockey riding him (Celebre D'Allen) to the point of collapse received a pitiful 10-day suspension,' said Iain Green, director of animal-welfare activist Animal Aid, before criticizing the decision to allow 'a horse of this age to race in the most punishing and notoriously dangerous race on record.' The Grand National has long been regarded as one of the most dangerous horse races in the world because of the size of the fences. A number of new measures — including reducing the field from 40 to 34 runners and bringing forward the race's start time — were introduced last year in an attempt to make it safer. ___ AP sports:
