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The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Rachael Blackmore shares rare insight into life with jockey boyfriend as she unwinds at festival
RACHAEL Blackmore has shared a rare insight into her life away from the racing track with her jockey boyfriend Brian Hayes. Fresh off 6 Blackmore generally keeps her relationship out of the public eye Credit: @blackmorerachael 6 Her, Brian and pals smiling for the camera on a night out Credit: @blackmorerachael 6 Top amateur jockey Patrick Mullins was sat beside her in this one Credit: @blackmorerachael 6 Unwinding on a gorgeous sunny day spent at a music festival Credit: @blackmorerachael Her latest Instagram post was notable for how little it showcased photos taken in a racing background. Instead, there were pics from her attending a friend's wedding, at a music festival and savouring general nights out with friends. Her jockey boyfriend Brian Hayes featured in a few of them. Tipperary native Blackmore generally steers any interview question about him back to racing. But she has given the odd titbit of information about Read More On Irish Sport In a 2021 interview she did lift the lid on how they shared a house at the time with another jockey star. She outlined: "I live with two other jockeys, Patrick Mullins and Brian Hayes. "I am going out with Brian Hayes, so there are three of us here. "It is a great house to live in and it is in a really good location in Leighlinbridge in Carlow. It is close to all the race tracks in Ireland." Most read in Horse Racing Interestingly, she added: "We don't talk about racing half as much as people might think. It is just a normal house when we come home." Book background A few weeks prior to her announcing her retirement, she marked an altogether different milestone with the publication of her first book - entitled Granny National. Statement issued as officials launch probe into jockey's final-flight fall on leading horse who drifted in market Sharing a pic of it among the shelves at Eason, the 35-year-old was clearly in buoyant form. She quipped: "Available now in all good and bad bookshops." It was co-written by Rachel Pierce and its retail price is €13.99. The Tipp trailblazer previously outlined how the story revolves around a young girl, who happens to be named Rachael, helps her grandmother to fulfil her lifelong dream of becoming a jockey. 6 Attending a friend's wedding while wearing a stunning red gown Credit: @blackmorerachael 6 With more pals in what looks to be a hotel lobby Credit: @blackmorerachael In total, three years of work went into it. As a rider, 2025 saw her The last one to fall was the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle which she clinched aboard Bob Olinger. It meant she added the Stayers' Hurdle to her previous victories in the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Ryanair Chase and Gold Cup.
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."
Irish Daily Mirror
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Rachael Blackmore breaks silence on what led to shock retirement announcement
Record breaking jockey Rachael Blackmore has given her first interview since her shock retirement from horse racing last week. The 35-year-old Tipperary woman stunned the sport last week when announcing she was ending her trailblazing career in the saddle in a lengthy statement on social media. Blackmore became the first woman jockey to win the Grand National at Aintree in 2021 and has also won all four of the major championship races at Cheltenham, completing the set just last March on Bob Olinger in the Stayers' Hurdle. In a YouTube interview with Betfair, Blackmore has admitted that she was in 'agony' about making her decision to retire — a thought that first entered her head on leaving Cheltenham this year. Her final ride was a winning one at Cork on May 10th, when partnering the Henry De Bromhead-trained Ma Belle Etoile to victory in a Novice Hurdle. 'It all just kind of happened when it happened. I think at Cheltenham this year on the Friday, just when I was leaving the weighroom, for the first time I just kind of had a little thought in my head 'will I be back here next season?' 'It's the first time that ever crept into my head. I didn't know really why but I just sort of said to myself, leave it til June and get to the (jump) jockey's break in June and I'll take some time then and think about it. But she fast tracked it by a number of weeks and called time on her career on May 12th. 'I was just going to Cork the other day and I thought to myself if this one wins maybe that's the time to call it and she won and in my own head I thought 'I think that's it'. 'I just needed to talk out loud about it first before I made any announcements or anything. I'd just digest that to myself. And on Sunday morning I just said I think that's going to be it.' Blackmore said she's had several 'long lunches' since the announcement and was quick to thank the many well wishers that had been in touch over the past number of days. 'I'm good, it's about a week and a bit in so I'm starting to try and process and digest it all and have been for a few long lunches last week and catching up with a lot of friends and with nice things in general. 'It's overwhelming, people are just so kind and I've got messages, emails and letters. I've got messages from people I'd known in passing but never would have had their number but they're going to the effort of getting my number and writing me a little message. 'I think when you're riding you never let yourself get too caught up in it all but now that I'm finished I can really appreciate everything and take it all in. 'There was a relief, as in my head I was in agony over it. It was really hard to know what to say and there were so many people, I could have written three A4 pages of people to thank. 'I think everyone that's ever helped me along the way, has given me one ride, has improved me and I've learned something from that. It was a really hard thing to write as so many people have helped me along the way." More to follow... Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email.
Scottish Sun
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
‘It will be very different' – Legendary jockey Rachael Blackmore reveals what's next for her after shock retirement
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LEGENDARY jockey Rachael Blackmore has revealed what's next for her after her shock retirement from the saddle. And she has opened up on the moment she knew she had to call it quits - after an epiphany at Cheltenham Festival. 1 Rachael Blackmore is enjoying some downtime away from racing and the spotlight with jockey boyfriend Brian Hayes Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk The trailblazing former Grand National winner stunned the sport when she confirmed she had retired last Monday. But in a conversation with Betfair, she said she had no plans yet to become a mentor or coach to aspiring young jockeys. Blackmore, 35, has written her first book - Granny National - and appears happy to take a complete break from the sport that turned her into a global icon. Asked what the future had in store, Blackmore said: "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. "It will be a very different life to the one I had previously." Blackmore's decision came out of the blue and just weeks after she had enjoyed more Cheltenham success with a Stayers' Hurdle win on Bob Olinger. She said when she was exiting the home of jumps on the final day of the Festival she had a strange feeling it may be for the final time. Blackmore said: "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 [the decision] until June and get to the jockey's break. I'd think about it all then." But it was a final win at Cork that convinced her the time was right. She 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." 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: 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.
The Irish Sun
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘It will be very different' – Legendary jockey Rachael Blackmore reveals what's next for her after shock retirement
LEGENDARY jockey Rachael Blackmore has revealed what's next for her after her shock retirement from the saddle. And she has opened up on the moment she knew she had to call it quits - after an epiphany at Cheltenham Festival. Advertisement 1 Rachael Blackmore is enjoying some downtime away from racing and the spotlight with jockey boyfriend Brian Hayes Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk The trailblazing former Grand National winner But in a conversation with Blackmore, 35, has written her first book - Granny National - and appears happy to take a complete break from the sport that turned her into a global icon. Asked what the future had in store, Blackmore said: "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. Advertisement "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." Blackmore's decision came out of the blue and just weeks after she had enjoyed more Cheltenham success with a Stayers' Hurdle win on Bob Olinger. She said when she was exiting the home of jumps on the final day of the Festival she had a strange feeling it may be for the final time. Advertisement Most read in Horse Racing Blackmore said: "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 [the decision] until June and get to the jockey's break. I'd think about it all then." But it was a final win at Cork that convinced her the time was right. Advertisement She 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." 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: 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. Advertisement
