Jockey Rachael Blackmore, the first female rider to win the Grand National, has announced she is retiring from horse racing.
The trailblazing rider, 35, also won 18 races at the Cheltenham Festival, and bowed out with victory aboard Ma Belle Etoile at her final meeting at Cork on Saturday.
Blackmore made history in 2021 when she rode Minella Times to Grand National glory, becoming the first woman to win the world’s greatest steeplechase at Aintree in the then 182-year history of the race.
The same year, she became the first female jockey to win the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle aboard Honeysuckle and the following year she secured another first when steering A Plus Tard to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
In a statement posted on social media, she said “the time is right”, adding she felt sad but was 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.
“The people to thank are endless, it’s not possible to mention everyone (as I don’t want this to be another book) but I’m going to get a few names in here anyway and to everyone else, you know who you are, as they say.”
She added: “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.”
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She rode her first winner as a professional in 2015 and was due to ride at Sligo and Tipperary in the coming days.
However, Blackmore’s decision to retire with immediate effect means her final career success came aboard Ma Belle Etoile, fittingly trained by her long-time ally, Henry de Bromhead, at Cork on Saturday.
