Rachael Blackmore

Rachael Blackmore, who made history when becoming the first female jockey to ride the winner of the Randox Grand National in 2021, will be inducted as a Grand National Legend for 2026. Blackmore will join the likes of Ginger McCain, Jenny Pitman and JP McManus as a Grand National Legend, along with equine stars Red Rum, Tiger Roll and Aldaniti. A plaque celebrating her achievements will be unveiled at Aintree Racecourse on the opening day of the Randox Grand National Festival (Thursday, April 9). The ceremony will take place by...

Rachael Blackmore, who retired from a glittering career in the saddle in May, received the Contribution to the Industry Award at the annual Horse Racing Ireland Awards 2025 in Dublin this evening. The most recent three recipients of the prestigious title have been the late owner-breeder HH the Aga Khan, trainer Jessica Harrington and multiple champion owner-breeder JP McManus. "It is hard to think of someone who made such a profound impact on the sport so quickly," said Suzanne Eade, HRI's Chief Executive Officer, before handing the Tipperary-born former rider...

Former jockey Rachael Blackmore and Jack, Owen and Ivor Anthony will be inducted into the Jump Racing Hall of Fame at Cheltenham this week. The quartet will be formally inducted into the Hall of Fame on day one of the November Meeting on Friday, November 14. Blackmore, who retired in May, was the first female to ride a Grand National winner with Minella Times at Aintree. She is also a current ambassador for Cheltenham Racecourse and, with the assist of trainer Henry de Bromhead, was leading rider at the Cheltenham...

Irish sports stars TJ Reid, Bernard Dunne, Rachael Blackmore, Danny Mullins, and Ursula Jacob are lending their support to the annual Hurling for Cancer Research match, which has raised more than €1.6m since its inception. The event, which is now backed by supermarket chain Centra, was the brainchild of trainer Jim Bolger and jockey Davy Russell 14 years ago. It is set to take place this year at Netwatch Dr Cullen Park on Monday, August 18 at 7.30pm. "It's become a very special day in the calendar, especially for the...

Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National-winning rider Rachael Blackmore has announced her retirement from the saddle with immediate effect. The 35-year-old 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 the then-182-year history of the race. In a statement, Blackmore 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...

CHELTENHAM, UK--Rarely has a race ever epitomised the old sporting saying, 'form is temporary, class is permanent', like the 2025 running of the G1 Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle, won by the enigma that is Bob Olinger (Ire) for a trainer and jockey combination desperately in need of a pick-me-up at the start of play on the penultimate day of the Cheltenham Festival. That Bob Olinger was available to back at 20-1 the night before this three-mile contest was symptomatic of how far he'd fallen from grace in just a few...

Racing to School reported on Monday another record year of participation and events in 2024, through work designed to deliver relevant learning and careers information to diverse groups of young people. In its 23rd year, Racing to School engaged over 17,000 young minds across 456 events, with the support of racing venues and organisations nationwide. Alongside existing ambassadors such as Hollie Doyle, Oisin Murphy and ITV Racing's Leonna Mayor, the education charity also welcomed leading National Hunt jockey Rachael Blackmore as an international supporter last year. John Blake, chief executive...

Jumps jockey Rachael Blackmore has been named as the international supporter of the racing charity Racing to School, the racing charity announced on Wednesday. A winner of both the Grand National and Gold Cup, Blackmore worked with the team again this year at Cheltenham's Festival Monday, a community initiative started in 2023 which engages pupils from local primary schools for a very special activity on the eve of the Festival. Blackmore, who also supports the Equestrian Centre Charity Festina Lente and Cancer Fund for Children, said, "Racing to School do...

Kenny Alexander, the owner of Honeysuckle (GB) (Sulamani {Ire}), has donated a specific set of racing colours which will be offered as part of the Goffs Punchestown Sale next week, the sales company announced on Friday. Signed by Rachael Blackmore, Henry De Bromhead and Alexander, the silks were worn by Blackmore in all of Honeysuckle's major races, including her four Cheltenham Festival victories. The silks are offered to support the ChildVision indoor equine therapeutic centre named in memory of Jack De Bromhead, which will be built this year. The catalogue...

CHELTENHAM, UK -- "It's the Willie Mullins five as they come towards the last." Commentator Ian Bartlett issued a line to strike dread into the hearts of rival trainers. Mullins had picked up where he left off, with Ballyburn (Ire) (Flemensfirth) leading home his stable-mates Jimmy de Seuil (Fr), Ile Atlantique (Fr), Mercurey (Fr) and Predators Gold (Fr) in the G1 Gallagher Novices' Hurdle. The only other finisher, and one of two British-trained runners, was Ben Pauling's Handstands (Ire), tailed off, while Jingko Blue (Fr) continued a week of woe...

Peter Molony, racing manager to Kenny Alexander, says he cannot split the powerful owner's Jade De Grugy (Fr), Kargese (Fr) and previous Cheltenham Festival scorer Telmesomethinggirl (Ire) when it comes to picking the operation's best chance of a winner at Prestbury Park next week.  The Rathmore Stud boss also provided a passionate riposte to some of the criticism being levelled at the mares' races at the Cheltenham Festival by stating that their horse of a lifetime Honeysuckle (GB) may never have seen a racetrack had it not been for the...

Gerry McGrath, breeder of Champion Hurdler Jezki (Ire) (Milan {GB}) and high-class performers Jett (Ire) (Flemensfirth), Jered (Ire) (Presenting {GB}), Jetson (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}) and Jenari (Ire) (Milan {GB}) all out of the outstanding broodmare La Noire (Ire) (Phardante {Fr}), has outlined hopes that the legacy can continue with leading Dublin Racing Festival contender Jetara (Ire) (Walk In The Park {Ire}). A granddaughter of La Noire, the mare who was famously gifted to McGrath by his late father in the nineties, Jetara will take on the boys in the G1...