Rachael Blackmore: The First Female Jockey to Win the Grand National

The daughter of a teacher and a farmer, Rachael Blackmore’s humble beginnings have helped keep her grounded in her meteoric rise through National Hunt Racing. Growing up on a dairy farm in Killenaule, County Tipperary, Ireland, Blackmore began riding at an early age, taking part in pony club meetings, hunting and pony racing. 

She began her career as an amateur jockey in 2010 and rode her first winner as an amateur jockey on 10 February 2011, when Stowaway Pearl, trained by Shark Hanlon, won the Tipperary Ladies’ Handicap Hurdle at Thurles. She finished her amateur career with 11 point-to-point winners and seven winners as an amateur rider before turning professional in 2015. She won her first pro race that same year when she rode Most Honourable, also trained by Hanlon, at Clonmel on 3 September 2015. Two years later she became the first woman to win the conditional riders' championship in Ireland, riding 32 winners. 

Rising to the top

After such an impressive start to her young career, in 2018 Blackmore made her first appearance in one of the most culturally significant races in all of UK Horse racing, the Grand National. However, her run did not go according to plan and her mount, Alpha des Obeaux, fell at the 15th fence. However, it was two events later in that same race where Blackmore would change history, make records and firmly assert herself as one of the best jockeys in the world. On the 10th April 2021, she rode Minella Times to victory in the National, becoming the first female jockey ever to win the famed race. 

She led the Henry de Bromhead trained horse to an incredible ride and finished 6½ lengths in front of stablemate Balko Des-Flos who finished 2nd, in a race that is often so tightly contested past the post. “I don’t feel male or female right now. I don’t even feel human…This is just unbelievable.” Blackmore said speaking to ITV after the historic win.

“I never even imagined I’d get a ride in this race, never mind get my hands on the trophy,” she continued.

Katie Walsh, whose third-place finish in 2012 had been the best previous effort by a female jockey in the race, praised the feat and recognised it as a great day for the sport. “This is the most-watched race in the world, there are people who are going to hear about this in all different parts of the world and it’s just brilliant for horseracing and I’m delighted for Rachael,” said Walsh.

Unstoppable 

The Grand National is not the only incredible feat in Blackmore’s career so far, earning great success at Cheltenham Festival. You can bet on the festival this year with 888 Sport who offer some of the best Cheltenham odds. She rode her first Cheltenham Festival winner in 2019 when A Plus Tard landed the Chase Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase before riding her first Grade 1 victory when Minella Indo won the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle. She finished that season with 90 winners, finishing as the runner-up in the Irish jump racing Champion Jockey competition behind Paul Townend. In 2021 she made history at the event. She became the first female jockey to partner a winner of the Champion Hurdle and her six winners across the four days made her the first female jockey to win the Ruby Walsh Trophy for leading Cheltenham jockey. 

Blackmore’s incredible career has undoubtedly broken barriers in sport, and she’s not done yet. Although her mounts are still unconfirmed, she will ride at Cheltenham Festival this year as she looks to add to her tally at the massive meeting. It is also likely that we will see her again at the Grand National this year as she looks to repeat her 2021 achievement and break another record to become the first female jockey to win the race twice.

She is undoubtedly an inspiration to her compatriots and is paving the way for the successes of some of the best up and coming female jockeys. Hollie Doyle is breaking records herself at the age of 25. She is the first female jockey to ride five consecutive winners on a card and most recently broke her own record of British winners ridden in a year with an incredible 117 wins. Bryony Frost has also enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame, winning the 2019 Jump Jockey of the Year and has become one of the most well-regarded jockeys in the British weighing room. Flat racer Hayley Turner is also an inspiration to some of the best female jockeys in the world having started her career over 20 years ago and still riding winners in 2022.

At just 32, there is still plenty of time for Blackmore to make new ground and break more records in her already historic career. However, it goes without saying, if it were to all end today Rachael Blackmore would still be renowned as one of the best Jockeys ever to ride in the UK.