For much of its long history, men have dominated the sport of National Hunt racing. However, that fact is not a result of any lack of talent or desire on the part of women. Before the mid-1970s, female riders were simply not permitted to compete on an equal footing with their male counterparts.
Thankfully, the door cracked open in 1976, when the UK Jockey Club finally permitted females to apply for a professional licence. Granted an opportunity at long last, female participation in the sport began to increase.
Charlotte Brew, Geraldine Rees, and Gee Armytage were among the earliest trendsetters, while in more recent years Nina Carberry, Katie Walsh, Lizzie Kelly, and Bryony Frost have made a splash on racing’s biggest stages. All deserve a prominent place in the history of female riders, but none can match the achievements of a County Tipperary native who redefined what is possible for a female rider.
From a dairy farm upbringing, Rachael Blackmore progressed through the pony racing ranks to become the most successful female jumps jockey of all time, racking up records and notable firsts during an iconic career.
Cutting Her Teeth at Pony Club
Born on 11 July 1989, Rachael Blackmore hails from the same Tipperary town of Killenaule as legendary flat jockey Mick Kinane. As the daughter of a teacher and a dairy farmer, Rachael had no immediate ties to racing. However, horses are rarely too far away in the Irish countryside, and young Rachael was soon bitten by the bug.
Riding a pony for the first time at just two years of age, Rachael gained experience at Pony Club before progressing to ride horses on the hunting and eventing scene. Rachael’s love of horses extended to her education, taking her to the University of Limerick, where she earned a degree in equine science. That qualification provided Rachael with several options, but her heart remained set on a career in the saddle.
Rachael the First
Pursuing her dream, Rachael rode her first winner as an amateur aboard the Shark Hanlon-trained Stowaway Pearl in a Tipperary handicap hurdle on 10 February 2011. Progressing slowly in the early years, a first win as a professional didn’t arrive until 3 September 2015, when partnering Most Honourable to victory at Clonmel. Rachael rose to prominence during the 2016/17 season, jumping from a six-winner 2015/16 campaign to register 32 winners in Ireland. That tally was enough to see Rachael become the first-ever female winner of the Irish Conditional Jockey Championship.
Among those impressed with Rachael’s progress was Knockeen trainer Henry de Bromhead, who made Rachael his stable jockey in 2019. Now able to pair her talent with a higher calibre of horse on a consistent basis, Rachael began to show the world what she could do. Riding at least 50 winners per season between 2018/19 and 2023/24, Rachael shot to the summit of the sport. When hanging up her saddle, she had created a lasting legacy of records and achievements, including:
2021: First Female Jockey to Win the Champion Hurdle
If there is one horse most associated with Rachael Blackmore, it is undoubtedly the wonderful Henry de Bromhead-trained Honeysuckle. Rachael rode the Kenny Alexander-owned mare in all 18 of her starts under rules, with the irresistible duo tasting defeat only twice.
In 2020, Honeysuckle helped Rachael become the first female winner of the Irish Champion Hurdle and followed up in the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. One year later, the pair teamed up for an emphatic success in the big one on the opening day of the March Festival. The Honeysuckle/Blackmore Cheltenham Festival success story continued with further wins in the Champion Hurdle (2022) and Mares’ Hurdle (2023).
2021: First Female to Be Crowned Leading Jockey at the Cheltenham Festival
For many riders, a single win at the Cheltenham Festival is enough for a season to be considered a success. However, Rachael didn’t rest on her laurels following her Champion Hurdle triumph. Adding further wins aboard Bob Olinger (Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle), Sir Gerhard (Champion Bumper), Allaho (Ryanair Chase), Quilixios (Triumph Hurdle), and Telmesometinggirl (Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle), Rachael walked away as the meeting’s leading rider.
2021: First Female Jockey to Win the Aintree Grand National
Rachael’s golden 2021 continued with a win in the biggest race of them all. 172 editions of the Aintree Grand National had passed when Rachael headed to the start line aboard Minella Times in 2021. During that time, 32 female riders had tackled the famous Aintree fences in the big race. None had finished any better than third.
Rachael put that right with a masterful display of patience and timing, as Minella Times cruised into contention around the elbow before streaking to a 6½-length history-making success. Thanks to the Covid protocols at the time, the Aintree stands were empty on the day, but the cheers greeting this victory echoed around the nation. Summing up the experience, the overwhelmed rider stated, “I don’t feel male or female right now—I don’t even feel human. This is just unbelievable.”
2021: First Irish Winner of the BBC World Sport Star of the Year Award
Rachael’s incredible 2021 season was honoured at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards ceremony. In claiming the World Sport Star of the Year award, she added her name to a list including Pelé, Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, and Usain Bolt. Also during the 2021 awards season, Rachael became the first female to be crowned RTÉ Sports Person of the Year.
2022: First Female Jockey to Win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Having claimed the most famous jumps race on the calendar, Rachael added the most prestigious National Hunt event to her haul in 2022. In 2021, Rachael and A Plus Tard finished second to another Henry de Bromhead runner, Minella Indo in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
One year on, and with Minella Indo once again among the opposition, Rachael kept faith with A Plus Tard. That decision was vindicated in some style, as the pair bolted 15 lengths clear to post one of the most visually impressive Cheltenham Gold Cup triumphs of the 21st century.
2024: First Female Jockey to Win the Queen Mother Champion Chase
Rachael registered two further Grade 1 wins at the 2023 edition of the Cheltenham Festival. Then, in 2024, she became the first female jockey to ride the winner of the most coveted 2m chase of the season. Taking advantage of a fall by odds-on favourite El Fabiolo, Rachael and Captain Guinness breezed into contention around the home turn before staying on well for a famous success.
2025: Completes the Set of Cheltenham Signature Events
With wins in the Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, and Cheltenham Gold Cup, Rachael had three of the four Cheltenham Festival championship contests on her CV. She ticked the final box when partnering old favourite Bob Olinger to a hugely popular victory in the 2025 Stayers’ Hurdle.
Retires as a Legend
Breaking: Rachael Blackmore has announced her retirement from the saddle! pic.twitter.com/qfH6PARcZF
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 12, 2025
After 16 years as a professional jockey, Rachael Blackmore announced her retirement on 12 May 2025. She ended her career with 575 wins – a record for a female jumps jockey – and the above list of never-to-be-erased firsts. Alongside Barry Geraghty and Ruby Walsh, she is the only jockey, male or female, to win all four championship events at the Cheltenham Festival and the Aintree Grand National. A true legend of the sport and a genuine pioneer.