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Daily Mirror
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Rachael Blackmore's career earnings, jockey boyfriend, reason for retirement
Rachael Blackmore has called time on a stellar career in the saddle, with Mirror Sport shedding light on the horse racing icon's decision and her "normal" relationship with her jockey boyfriend Trailblazing jockey Rachael Blackmore stunned the racing world by announcing her retirement on Monday. The 35-year-old jumps rider broke the news with a lengthy statement on social media, which stated her 'days of being a jockey have come to an end'. Blackmore made history by becoming the first female jockey to ride a winner in the Grand National in 2021, which helped her claim the BBC World Sports Personality of the Year award. Blackmore, from County Tipperary, Ireland, then became the first female rider to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2022 on A Plus Tard, while also twice winning the Champion Hurdle on Honeysuckle. She completed the set of the Cheltenham Festival 's feature prizes in March by clinching the Stayers' Hurdle on Bob Olinger, taking her total Festival haul of wins to 18. The latest season saw her suffer a neck injury which kept her out of action from September to Christmas, though she still ended the campaign with 32 wins in Ireland. In the current season, Blackmore registered just a single victory from four mounts, but managed to win on her last ride aboard Ma Belle Etoile at Cork on Saturday. And as we say goodbye to a horse racing icon, Mirror Sport brings you all you need to know about her career earnings, romantic life and the reason behind her retirement. What are Rachael Blackmore's career earnings? Blackmore, as of March 2025, 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 prize. A large chunk of her winnings have been earned in her native Ireland, £6m to be exact, where she won a trio of Irish Champion Hurdles from 2021 to 2023 on the aforementioned heroine Honeysuckle. Blackmore rode A Plus Tard to £350,000 in prize money when taking Friday's blue riband in 2022, and her latest haul came just 12 months ago when Captain Guinness achieved Champion Chase glory, taking home £225k in the process. Who is Rachael Blackmore's partner? Blackmore is in a long-term relationship with Brian Hayes, who is also a jockey. In 2021, Rachael opened up about how she shares lodgings with Hayes and another jockey, Patrick Mullins, in Leighlinbridge, Carlow, due to its close proximity to the big tracks in Ireland. County Cork-born Hayes star rode his first festival winner in 2023 when lifting Impervious to the Mares' Chase. And while some would assume that their relationship is dominated by horse racing talk, Rachael revealed that the reality is very different. She said: "We don't talk about racing half as much as people think. It's just a normal house when we come home." Hayes, while having picked up plenty of rides for Emmet Mullins over the years, is now one of many who often finds himself on the back of reigning British champion trainer Willie Mullins ' animals. The couple even had to put their romance to one side at this year's Cheltenham Festival as they squared off against each other. Hayes first appeared in the Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle on Closutton outsider Funiculi Funicula, while Blackmore rode De Bromhead's seven-year-old Workahead. The pair met again later in the day with Hayes on another horse saddled by Mullins: six-year-old mare Gala Marceau, in the Mares' Hurdle, in which Blackmore rode July Flower. She revealed that the pair also share the same lodgings when they travel to Gloucestershire together: "We [Blackmore, Hayes, and fellow jockey Patrick Mullins] stay together in Cheltenham every year. "We get a house. We usually go, and come over on Sunday night. So we're there on Monday to ride out, and that's a lovely day because you can kind of get settled in and walk the track - get your racing bag down to the weigh room and just get ready for the week ahead. We have a house very close so it's very convenient." Why is Rachael Blackmore retiring? Blackmore's only explanation as to why she has decided to retire came in her statement, where she wrote: "I feel the time is right,' before saying: 'I'm sad but l'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." Blackmore admitted she was slightly anxious about what the future holds after a long career as a jockey, having ridden her first winner as an amateur in 2011 and quickly progressed into becoming of her homeland's premier riders. She added: "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 l'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 went on to thank all the people who have helped her on her journey, saying: "Firstly, my parents who provided me with the best childhood, and a pony I couldn't hold! This set the seed for a life of racing. Aidan Kennedy gave me my first ride in a point to point. I spent time riding out for Arthur Moore and Pat Doyle which I loved. Sam Curling and Liam Lennon were also big supporters as was Denise O' Shea, John Nicholson, Ellmarie Holden, Harry Smyth and Gigginstown House Stud. "I rode my first winner for Shark Hanlon, who then helped me become Champion Conditional. I will be forever grateful to Shark for getting behind me, supporting me and believing in me when it would have been just as easy to look elsewhere. He was the catalyst for what was to come."
Daily Mirror
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
World Snooker Championship icon Michaela Tabb retires from Crucible refereeing
Michaela Tabb has retired as a snooker referee after taking charge of her last match at the Crucible Theatre, having made history at the venue as the first female to referee a World Championship final Trailblazing referee Michaela Tabb has brought the curtain down on her traditional snooker career after officiating her last match at the iconic Crucible Theatre. The 57-year-old bid farewell after refereeing the opening five frames of the World Seniors Snooker Tour final between Alfie Burden and Aaron Canavan on Sunday. Tabb, who made history by being the first female referee at a world ranking tournament, went on to become the first woman to officiate the World Championship final at the Crucible in 2009. She passed the baton to fellow female referee Proletina Velichkova after the initial five frames of the WSST final. Although Tabb will continue to referee the Snooker Legends 900, she expressed her excitement about retiring from traditional snooker. Ahead of her last final in Sheffield, she said: "I'm excited to hang up my gloves if I'm being honest, for traditional snooker. I think I've done my time. "I'm getting to an age where it would be nice to watch other people doing that, especially after seeing another female coming up now and refereeing the final at the main World Championships. 'It's been like 15 years that we've been waiting for that to sort of happen. So I'm happy now to let the young guns do it. 'I will still work with Snooker Legends and I'll still do the 900 but for traditional snooker, my day will be finished. I feel emotional even just talking about it to be honest. "Honestly, it could make me cry, and I was so lucky to have two finals and so many other matches as well.' Tabb was fast-tracked by the snooker authorities, making her debut on the ranking circuit in 2002. The Somerset-born Scot went on to officiate the 2009 and 2012 Crucible finals. She left the World Snooker Tour (WST) in March 2015 following 14 years of service. Her exceptional refereeing skills and lasting presence in the game paved the way for other female referees to follow her example. That was clear to see as Desislava Bozhilova, 32, took charge of the gripping recent World Snooker Championship final between Zhao Xintong and Mark Williams. During Tabb's last competitive frame, legendary snooker commentator Dennis Taylor praised her influence within the sport, saying: "She's been a wonderful referee and she's encouraged so many ladies to come forward. There's now up to 10 from around the world and it's all down to Michaela." Fellow female referee Tatiana Woollaston, who oversaw the 2024 UK Championship final, also expressed her gratitude on social media following the news of Tabb's retirement. She posted on X: "For all women, which now have an opportunity to get involved in the sport they love, there had to be THE FIRST and that was Michaela Tabb. Inspiration, history maker and an amazing person! Thank you and enjoy the retirement!"
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Trapped 100 feet in the air: Mass. worker rescued from inside water tower
A Massachusetts worker had to be rescued Tuesday after getting trapped inside a water tower 100 feet in the air. Around 3:21 p.m. Tuesday, a 911 call was made regarding a medical event at the Sandy Pond Water Tower in Yarmouth, the Yarmouth Fire Department said in a press release. When the fire department arrived, they discovered a cell worker was trapped inside the water tower. The fire department used ropes to help get the worker out of the water tower. The person was then taken to the hospital. These types of rescues have increased, the fire department said, adding that they are continuing to add training on it. One of the firefighters had recently graduated from a 4-day rope rescue technician class. Rock legend postpones concert after hospitalized right before show Mass. State Lottery winner: 5 $100,000 tickets sold across state 'Trailblazing' Canton police chief announces retirement Willenborg leaves Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport for Hanscom AFB Westfield veterans groups observe Patriots Day at Parker Memorial Park
