Irish great Rachael Blackmore retires after glittering 16 year career in horse racing
Blackmore is the first female jockey to win both the Grand National and the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Irish sporting great, Rachael Blackmore, has announced her retirement following her glittering 16 year career as a jockey.
Blackmore will go down as one of Ireland's greatest athletes, becoming the first woman to win The Cheltenham Gold Cup, The Grand National, and the Cheltenham Festival Top Jockey 2022, to name a few.
Blackmore took to her social media account to share the news of her retirement, starting her statement by saying "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 legged up on horses I have, and to have experienced success I never even dreamt could be possible."
She goes on to thank those who have helped her along the way and even recounts her first winner "I rode my first winner for Shark Hanlon, who then helped me become Champion Conditional. I will be forever grateful to Shark for getting behind me, supporting me and believing in me when it would have been just as easy to look elsewhere. He was the catalyst for what was to come."
She goes on to describe trainer Henry de Bromhead as a "phenomenal trainer, who brought the best in me." and also to Willie Mullins who "provided me with success throughout my career."
You can find the full statement by Rachael on her X account HERE or by following the social media post below this article.