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Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Rachael Blackmore gives fans rare glimpse into her life with boyfriend and pals after shock retirement aged 35
THAT'S MORE LIKE IT THAT'S MORE LIKE IT Rachael Blackmore gives fans rare glimpse into her life with boyfriend and pals after shock retirement aged 35 RACHAEL BLACKMORE has shared several snaps of herself enjoying life in retirement. The legendary jockey, 35, surprisingly announced that she was calling it quits earlier this month. Advertisement 6 Rachael Blackmore has posted several pictures on Instagram Credit: Instagram @blackmorerachael 6 Blackmore poses with boyfriend Brian Hayes Credit: Instagram @blackmorerachael 6 Th former jockey has enjoyed evenings out with pals Credit: Instagram @blackmorerachael Since retiring, Blackmore has been spending time with family and friends. In her Instagram post earlier today, the Irish superstar shared pictures of herself with pals, as well as boyfriend Brian Hayes. Some of her pictures showed her at swanky restaurants. While another saw her pose trackside. Advertisement READ MORE IN RACING FALL GUY Probe launched into jockey's fall off leading horse at last jump amid punter fury During her illustrious career, Blackmore secured 575 wins as a jockey. Blackmore also made history at the 2021 Grand National, winning the race aboard Minella Times. The triumph marked the first time that a woman had ever won the prestigious race. She was also the first woman to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup on A Plus Tard in 2022. Advertisement BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 6 Blackmore announced her retirement earlier this month Credit: Instagram @blackmorerachael 6 The Irish superstar has had plenty of fun since quitting racing Credit: Instagram @blackmorerachael This was one of 18 winners she achieved at Cheltenham. Advertisement Announcing her decision, Blackmore said: "My days of being a jockey have come to an end. 'Fantastic time' - Rachael Blackmore & Paul Townend share backstage sneak peek of Late Late Show experience '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. '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. Advertisement "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 Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Rachael Blackmore gives fans rare glimpse into her life with boyfriend and pals after shock retirement aged 35
RACHAEL BLACKMORE has shared several snaps of herself enjoying life in retirement. The legendary jockey, 35, surprisingly announced that she was calling it quits earlier this month. 6 Rachael Blackmore has posted several pictures on Instagram Credit: Instagram @blackmorerachael 6 Blackmore poses with boyfriend Brian Hayes Credit: Instagram @blackmorerachael 6 Th former jockey has enjoyed evenings out with pals Credit: Instagram @blackmorerachael Since retiring, In her Instagram post earlier today, the Irish superstar shared pictures of herself with pals, as well as boyfriend Brian Hayes. Some of her pictures showed her at swanky restaurants. While another saw her pose trackside. READ MORE IN RACING During her illustrious career, Blackmore secured 575 wins as a jockey. Blackmore also made history at the 2021 Grand National, winning the race aboard Minella Times. The triumph marked the first time that a woman had ever won the prestigious race. She was also the first woman to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup on A Plus Tard in 2022 . Most read in Horse Racing BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 6 Blackmore announced her retirement earlier this month Credit: Instagram @blackmorerachael 6 The Irish superstar has had plenty of fun since quitting racing Credit: Instagram @blackmorerachael This was one of 18 winners she achieved at Cheltenham. Announcing her decision, Blackmore said: "My days of being a jockey have come to an end. 'Fantastic time' - Rachael Blackmore & Paul Townend share backstage sneak peek of Late Late Show experience '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. '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.' 6 Blackmore poses for a picture trackside Credit: Instagram @blackmorerachael
The Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Rachael Blackmore gives fans rare glimpse into her life with boyfriend and pals after shock retirement aged 35
RACHAEL BLACKMORE has shared several snaps of herself enjoying life in retirement. The legendary jockey, 35, surprisingly announced that she was calling it quits earlier this month. 6 6 6 Since retiring, Blackmore has been spending time with family and friends. In her Instagram post earlier today, the Irish superstar shared pictures of herself with pals, as well as boyfriend Brian Hayes. Some of her pictures showed her at swanky restaurants. While another saw her pose trackside. During her illustrious career, Blackmore secured 575 wins as a jockey. Blackmore also made history at the 2021 Grand National, winning the race aboard Minella Times. The triumph marked the first time that a woman had ever won the prestigious race. She was also the first woman to in 2022. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 6 6 This was one of 18 winners she achieved at Cheltenham. Announcing her decision, Blackmore said: "My days of being a jockey have come to an end. 'Fantastic time' - Rachael Blackmore & Paul Townend share backstage sneak peek of Late Late Show experience '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. '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.'
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."
Daily Mirror
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Jockey Rachael Blackmore breaks silence on retirement and opens up on fame
The Grand National-winning rider of 2021 on Minella Times said she has been "privileged" to inspire the next generation at the races after making history in her sport Weighing room history-maker Rachael Blackmore has spoken out for the first time since retiring from the sport of horse racing. The 35-year-old won the Grand National and Gold Cup during a career which saw her become one of the best jockeys to compete over jumps. Blackmore signed off with a final victory for long-time ally Henry de Bromhead on Ma Belle Etoile at Cork on May 10. After a week to reflect on her decision, the sportswoman revealed to Betfair how she first considered calling it a day at Cheltenham in March, where she joined a select group of jockeys to tick off a full house in the four championship events. After riding Stayers' Hurdle hero Bob Olinger, Blackmore pondered the future as she left Prestbury Park, a place which helped her become a household name. "It was the first time that thought had ever crept into my head," the betting firm's ambassador said. "I just said to myself leave it [the decision] until June and get to the jockey's break." Blackmore, who entered the record books by becoming the first female jockey to conquer the National on Minella Times, added: "I was going to Cork the other day [to ride Ma Belle Etoile] 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." Yet to decide on her future plans, Blackmore credits subsequent Gold Cup hero A Plus Tard with taking her career to the next level in a 2019 Festival handicap. "I had never ridden a (Cheltenham) winner) - Henry put a lot of faith in me to deliver that week and it was massive," she said. As of March 2025, Blackmore had raked in approximately £9million in prize money at Cheltenham and beyond, according to At The Races. As per the PJA, jockeys receive around ten per cent of the win fund. The rider of 18 Festival winners and 2021 BBC World Sports Personality of the Year also detailed what it is like to be famous, with young fans often heading her way at the races. "It's just a privilege to be that person," she said. "When you see some of them looking up to you, they half think you're Beyonce or something! They are mesmerised to see you. So excited and happy to get their little moment with a picture or an autograph. "To have that influence on someone's day for 30 seconds, it's a really special thing."
