Rachael Blackmore’s life changed forever in the spring of 2021 when she became the first woman to be crowned top jockey at the Cheltenham Festival after riding six winners and won the Randox Grand National.
The moment it dawned on the jockey that things would never be the same again came when she drove through her village of Killenaule in County Tipperary and could not believe what she was seeing.
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‘My face was in the shop windows and on posters everywhere,’ she explains. ‘I was thinking, “Jeez! This is a big deal!” I knew winning the Grand National was big but when I realised it had impacted the whole town, and beyond, that was it. Then the letters started coming!’
Rachael Blackmore celebrates on board Honeysuckle after winning the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle during day one of the Cheltenham Festival 2023. Pic: Getty Images
Rachael often gets fan mail and sweetly it’s often from her youngest supporters. She said: ‘You definitely know when letter writing is on the primary school curriculum. Teachers get the kids to write to someone they admire and it’s easy to tell when that week comes around! When you get letters, the kids always ask about Honeysuckle.’
‘It’s a privileged position to be in, having people looking up to you,’ says Rachael, who was awarded an honorary MBE in June. ‘I want to ride winners for myself, first and foremost. If it inspires someone else, then that’s class. Do I get recognised? Maybe if I walked around Dublin dressed as a jockey, people would know me!
Rachael Blackmore announced as official Locker ambassador at Racing Academy and Centre of Education in Curragh, Kildare. Pic: Sportsfile
‘Yes, I’ve been in restaurants and someone has asked for a picture but it’s usually during a week of racing. If you are in the airport, it’s usually because you are going racing and people on the flight are going racing. But it’s definitely not at the level people might think.’
When she’s not racing, Rachael is able to enjoy life and is as happy sitting at home immersed in Netflix — she has just finished watching Beckham — as she is going out for dinner and devouring a tasting menu.
Rachael Blackmore celebrates with the trophy after winning the Ryanair Chase aboard Envoi Allen on day three of the Cheltenham Festival 2023. Pic: PA Images
‘I love food — every morning I have porridge and Nutella,’ she enthuses. ‘My perfect dinner? A roast. I also love going to fancy restaurants where you have lots of small courses and it’s all gorgeous. I don’t drink. I had a few drinks when I was starting out but I didn’t really enjoy it. It wasn’t for me.’
She might be at the peak of her powers, but it is never far from her mind that there were points early on when it felt like her career would never take off and, with her degree in equine science from the University of Limerick, she could easily have followed another path. Did it ever cross her mind she might have to give up?
Pictured receiving the RTE Sport Sportsperson of the Year award at the RTE Sport Awards is Rachael Blackmore. Pic: Naoise Culhane
‘I don’t know,’ she says. ‘There is something about racing that just keeps you in it. It’s the dream. There’s always a chance you can buy a horse for €1,000 and it can have an unbelievable story. You might spend €400,000 and you’ll have more chance of success but there is no set rule.
‘I just always had that hope one day someone would pick up the phone and say “yes”, the horse would win and the ball would start rolling. I never struggled with knockbacks. I just kept going. When I was going through college, I was riding at the same time and I always hoped it would take off. I’m lucky I get to ride such good horses and I’m involved with a big yard that have lots of good horses and we expect winners. What am I like when they don’t win? Not happy!’
Rachael Blackmore in the Royal Box on Centre Court at Wimbledon. Pic: REX
Now Rachael’s story is being told in a film, Rachael Blackmore: The Game Changer, which has been produced by her sponsors, Betfair. The premise of the documentary, available on YouTube, is that she is a serial winner.
The insight is fascinating and she is humbled that people want to watch it. ‘Sure you’d never think something like this is going to happen,’ she says, softly. ‘It’s cool to see it all together but, you know, it’s strange to watch in a way. And the title… it’s a lie!’
Interview by Dominic King.
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