Rachael Blackmore (born 11 July 1989) is an Irish former

National Hunt National Hunt Racing, also known as Jump Racing, is a form of horse racing particular to many European countries, including, but not limited to: France, Great Britain and Ireland. Jump Racing requires horses to jump over fences and ditches. In ...

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used ...

. In 2021, she became the first female jockey to win the

Grand National The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England. First run in 1839, it ...

in the 182-year history of the race. She also became the first woman to be leading jockey at the

Cheltenham Festival The Cheltenham Festival is a horse racing-based meeting in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, with race prize money second only to the Grand National. The four-day festival takes place annually in March at Cheltenham Race ...

with six victories, including the

Champion Hurdle The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt racing, National Hunt Hurdling (horse race), hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to Horse racing, horses aged four years ...

, in 2021. The following year she became the first female jockey to win the

Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlon ...

. She announced her immediate retirement on 12 May 2025, having won 575 races as a professional jockey. Blackmore's achievements saw her named the 2021

RTÉ Sports Person of the Year The RTÉ Sports Person of the Year Award is the titular award of the RTÉ Sports Awards ceremony, which takes place each December. The winner is the Irish sportsperson (from the island of Ireland) judged to have achieved the most that year. The ...

and the 2021 BBC World Sport Star of the Year.

Early life

The daughter of a teacher and a farmer (Eimir and Charles), Blackmore grew up on a dairy farm in Killenaule,

County Tipperary County Tipperary () is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster and the Southern Region, Ireland, Southern Region. The county is named after the town of Tipperary (tow ...

, Ireland, and first started riding ponies at just two years of age. Growing up she took part in pony club meetings, hunting, eventing and pony racing. She gained a degree in equine science at the

University of Limerick University of Limerick (UL) () is a Public university, public research university institution in Limerick, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Founded in 1972, as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick, it became a university in Septemb ...

, while riding out and competing as an amateur jockey.

Career

Blackmore rode her first winner as an amateur jockey on 10 February 2011, when Stowaway Pearl, trained by John Joseph "Shark" Hanlon, won the Tipperary Ladies’ Handicap Hurdle at

Thurles Thurles (; ''Durlas Éile'') is a town in County Tipperary, Ireland. It is located in the civil parish of the same name in the barony of Eliogarty and in the ecclesiastical parish of Thurles. The cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Arch ...

. She turned professional in March 2015, having ridden eleven point-to-point winners and seven winners under the Rules of Racing as an amateur rider. Her first winner as a professional was Most Honourable, trained by Hanlon, at

Clonmel Clonmel () is the county town and largest settlement of County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland, Cromwellian army which sacked the towns of Dro ...

on 3 September 2015. In 2017, she became the first woman to win the conditional riders' championship in Ireland. Blackmore had her first ride in the

Grand National The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England. First run in 1839, it ...

in 2018. Her mount, Alpha des Obeaux, trained by Mouse Morris, went off at 33/1 and fell at the fifteenth fence, the Chair. Her first

winner came in 2019 when A Plus Tard landed the Chase Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase. She then gained her first Grade 1 victory when

Minella Indo Minella Indo (foaled 18 April 2013) is an Irish racehorse who competes in National Hunt racing. He was one of the leading Novices' Hurdlers 2018/19 season when he recorded Grade 1 victories in the Spa Novices' Hurdle and Irish Daily Mirror ...

won the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle. Both winners were trained by Henry de Bromhead for whom Blackmore was by now riding as stable jockey. In the 2019 Grand National Blackmore finished in tenth place on the de Bromhead-trained 66/1 chance Valseur Lido. Blackmore's first Grade 1 race victory in Ireland came in April 2019 when

Honeysuckle Honeysuckles are arching shrubs or Vine#Twining vines, twining vines in the genus ''Lonicera'' () of the family Caprifoliaceae. The genus includes 158 species native to northern latitudes in North America, Eurasia, and North Africa. Widely kno ...

won the Mares' Novice Hurdle Championship Final at

Fairyhouse Fairyhouse Racecourse is a horse racing venue in Ireland. It is situated in the parish of Ratoath in County Meath, on the R155 regional road, off the N3. It hosted its first race in 1848 and since 1870 has been the home of the Irish Grand ...

. Blackmore finished the season with 90 winners and took the runner-up spot in the Irish jump racing Champion Jockey competition behind

Paul Townend Paul Townend (born 15 September 1990) is an Irish people, Irish jockey who competes in National Hunt racing. From Lisgoold in County Cork, he has been attached to the yard of Irish trainer Willie Mullins since he was fifteen, beginning his care ...

. Honeysuckle provided Blackmore with another Cheltenham Festival win in the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle in 2020. Blackmore finished third in the Irish National Hunt championship during the curtailed 2019–20 season. In 2021, she achieved two notable firsts at the

, becoming the first female jockey to partner a winner of the Champion Hurdle when she rode Honeysuckle to victory and, by finishing with six winners across the four days, became the first female jockey to win the

Ruby Walsh Rupert "Ruby" Walsh (born 14 May 1979) is an Irish former jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen. Widely regarded as one of the greatest National Hunt racing, National Hunt ...

Trophy for leading Cheltenham jockey. On 10 April of the same year, Blackmore rode

Minella Times Minella Times (foaled 4 March 2013) is a retired Irish-bred Thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse who competed in National Hunt racing. In 2021 Grand National, 2021, he won the Grand National under Rachael Blackmore, becoming the first horse ridd ...

to victory in the 2021 Grand National, becoming the first female jockey to win the race. The gelding, trained by de Bromhead, went off as fourth favourite at 11/1 and, having given Blackmore a "sensational spin", passed the post 6½ lengths in front of stablemate and runner-up Balko Des Flos. Due to

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

protocols, there were no spectators on the course to witness Blackmore's historic victory. Interviewed by ITV after the race, she said: "I don't feel male or female right now. I don't even feel human.... It's unbelievable". The following year she again partnered Minella Times in the race. Carrying top weight, Minella Times went off second favourite but fell at

Valentine's Brook Valentine's Brook is a fence on Aintree Racecourse's National Course and thus is jumped during the Grand National steeplechase which is held annually at the racecourse, located near Liverpool, England. Originally named as the Second Brook, it wa ...

. In 2023, she finished last of the seventeen finishers on Ain't That A Shame, trained by de Bromhead. In 2024 and 2025, she rode Minella Indo for de Bromhead, finishing third in 2024 and ninth in 2025. At the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, Blackmore secured a repeat win on Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle and then became the first female jockey to win the

Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlon ...

, riding favourite A Plus Tard to a 15-length victory. At the 2023 Festival, she rode Honeysuckle to win the

David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle The David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle, currently known for sponsorship purposes as the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle, is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to mares aged four years or older. ...

for a second time on the mare's final racecourse appearance. Blackmore had ridden Honeysuckle in all her races, including thirteen Grade 1 wins in Britain and Ireland. Victory on Captain Guinness in the

Queen Mother Champion Chase The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the ...

in 2024 and on Bob Olinger in the

Stayers' Hurdle The Stayers' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain. It is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 m ...

in 2025 gave Blackmore a full-house of feature races at the Festival. A fall at

Downpatrick Downpatrick () is a town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is on the Lecale peninsula, about south of Belfast. In the Middle Ages, it was the capital of the Dál Fiatach, the main ruling dynasty of Ulaid. Down Cathedral, Its cathedral is sai ...

in September 2024, in which she sustained an injury to her neck, left Blackmore unable to race for three months. Although primarily a National Hunt jockey, Blackmore occasionally rode on the flat, achieving twelve successes over her career. The first was in May 2017 and the most notable was the Group 3 Brontë Cup at

York York is a cathedral city in North Yorkshire, England, with Roman Britain, Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers River Ouse, Yorkshire, Ouse and River Foss, Foss. It has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a Yor ...

in May 2024, riding Term Of Endearment for de Bromhead. On 12 May 2025, Blackmore announced her immediate retirement from professional racing. Writing on X, she 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 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."

In her final race two days earlier, she had ridden Ma Belle Etoile to victory for de Bromhead at

Cork "Cork" or "CORK" may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Stopper (plug), or "cork", a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container *** Wine cork an item to seal or reseal wine Places Ireland * ...

. It was the 575th winner of her career as a professional jockey.

Personal life

As of April 2025, Blackmore is in a long-term relationship with jockey Brian Hayes.

Cheltenham Festival winners (18)

Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlon ...

– (1) – A Plus Tard (

2022 The year began with another wave in the COVID-19 pandemic, with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, Omicron spreading rapidly and becoming the dominant variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. Tracking a decrease in cases and deaths, 2022 saw ...

) *

– (1) – Captain Guinness (2024) *

- (1) – Bob Olinger (2025) *

Supreme Novices' Hurdle The Supreme Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance o ...

– (1) – Slade Steel (2024) *

Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle The Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle (currently known as the Turners Novices' Hurdle for sponsorship reasons) is a Grade 1 National Hunt National Hunt Racing, also known as Jump Racing, is a form ...

– (1) – Bob Olinger (2021) *

Champion Bumper The Champion Bumper is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race in Great Britain which is open to racing horses aged four to six years. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 m ...

– (1) – Sir Gerhard (2021) *

Champion Hurdle The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt racing, National Hunt Hurdling (horse race), hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to Horse racing, horses aged four years ...

– (2) –

(

2021 Like the year 2020, 2021 was also heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the emergence of multiple Variants of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 variants. The major global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, which began at the end of 2020, continued ...

) *

Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase The Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase, known for sponsorship purposes as the Paddy's Reward Club Novices' Handicap Chase, is a Listed National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five yea ...

– (1) – A Plus Tard (2019) *

– (2) –

(2020, 2023) *

Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle The Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle, run as the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle for sponsorship purposes, is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to fillies and mares aged four years or older. It is r ...

– (2) – Telmesomethinggirl (2021), Air Of Entitlement (2025) *

Golden Miller Novices' Chase The Golden Miller Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, currently known for sponsorship purposes as the Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, is a Grade Two National Hunt limited handicap chase in Great Britain which is ...

– (1) – Bob Olinger (2022) *

Ryanair Chase The Ryanair Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 4½ furlongs ...

– (2) – Allaho (2021), Envoi Allen (2023) * Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle – (1) –

(2019) *

Triumph Hurdle The Triumph Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and ...

– (1) – Quilixios (2021)

Major wins

Ireland *

Arkle Novice Chase The Arkle Novice Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong ...

– (1) – Notebook (2020) *

Hatton's Grace Hurdle The Hatton's Grace Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Fairyhouse over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs (4,02 ...

– (3) –

(2019, 2020, 2021) *

Irish Champion Hurdle The Irish Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and ...

– (3) – Honeysuckle (2020, 2021, 2022) * Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle – (1) – Minella Indo (2019) * Ladbrokes Champion Chase – (1) – Envoi Allen (2022) *

Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final The Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to mares aged four years or older. It is run at Fairyhouse Racecourse over a distance of about 2 miles and ...

– (1) – Honeysuckle (2019) *

Paddy's Reward Club Chase The Paddy's Reward Club Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland. It is run at Leopardstown Racecourse in December, over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong (3,420 metres) and during the ...

– (2) – A Plus Tard (2019), Envoi Allen (2021) *

Punchestown Champion Hurdle The Punchestown Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and duri ...

– (2) – Honeysuckle (2021, 2022) * Racing Post Novice Chase – (1) – Notebook (2019) *

Slaney Novice Hurdle The Slaney Novice Hurdle, currently known for sponsorship purposes as the Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurdle, is a Grade One National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland. It is run in January at Naas Racecourse, ...

– (1) – Bob Olinger (2021) ---- Great Britain * Betfair Chase – (1) – A Plus Tard (2021) *

Grand National The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England. First run in 1839, it ...

– (1) – Minella Times (2021) *

Top Novices' Hurdle The Top Novices' Hurdle is a Grade One National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and half a ...

– (1) – Inthepocket (2023)

Awards

On 17 December 2021, Blackmore was named ''

The Irish Times ''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It was launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is Ireland's leading n ...

Ireland Sportswoman of the Year 2021. The same week she was crowned

Horse Racing Ireland Horse Racing Ireland (HRI; ) is the governing body of horse racing on the island of Ireland. It is based in the Curragh, County Kildare, next to the racecourse of that name. HRI was founded in 2001, succeeding the Irish Horseracing Authority, ...

Irish Racing Hero and

. On 19 December she received the

BBC Sports Personality World Sport Star of the Year The BBC World Sport Star of the Year (formerly known as the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year) is an award presented at the annual BBC Sports Personality of the Year award ceremony. The award is presented to a non-British sportsperson c ...

. Blackmore was appointed an

Honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(MBE) in the

2023 Special Honours As part of the British honours system, Special Honours are issued at the Monarch of the United Kingdom, Monarch's At His Majesty's pleasure, pleasure at any given time. The Special Honours refer to the awards made within royal prerogative, operati ...

for services to sport.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blackmore, Rachael 1989 births Living people Irish female jockeys Sportspeople from County Tipperary Alumni of the University of Limerick BBC Sports Personality World Sport Star of the Year winners RTÉ Sports Person of the Year winners Honorary members of the Order of the British Empire People from Killenaule Equestrians from County Tipperary 21st-century Irish sportswomen