Rachael Blackmore

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...

As 2023 draws to a close, the TDN is asking industry members to name their favorite moment of the year. Send yours to suefinley@thetdn.com I have been fortunate to experience many wonderful days racing, but NEVER I have EVER heard a crowd response like when the two Queens of National Hunt racing, HONEYSUCKLE and Rachael Blackmore, returned to the Cheltenham winner enclosure the after the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (The David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle) in March of this year. The place was packed 20 deep, it went wild, it was...

Jim Bolger and Davy Russell announced their star-studded teams for Hurling for Cancer Research, which takes place in Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow Monday Aug. 21. Throw-in is at 6 p.m. The two teams will be led by Wexford and Kilkenny legends Liam Griffin and Brian Cody acting as Bainisteoirs. The bevy of racing, sports and TV stars already confirmed for the event include David and Paudie Clifford, Rachael Blackmore, Ursula Jacob, Paul McGrath, Miriam O'Callaghan, Michael Duignan, Kevin Manning, Willie McCreery, Barry Geraghty, Marty Morrissey and Joanne O'Riordan are...

History-making jockey Rachael Blackmore, who in 2021 became the first woman to ride the winner of the Grand National, has been made an honorary MBE for services to sport. After landing Aintree's famous race aboard Minella Times (Ire), Blackmore, 33, also won the following season's Cheltenham Gold Cup on A Plus Tard (Fr). The Irish jockey was crowned leading rider at the Cheltenham Festival in 2021, the same year she won the BBC Sports Personality's World Sport Star of the Year award. Notably, she forged a famous partnership with the...