Rachael Blackmore will be honoured with the 2021 Irish Racing Hero Award at the annual Horse Racing Ireland Awards next month.Rachael’s pioneering exploits earlier this year - which brought particular delight to the people of Waterford, were hailed the world over and her achievements went hand-in-hand with an incredible period and unprecedented success for Irish-trained, Irish-ridden and Irish-bred horses.
Rachael was simply brilliant at the Cheltenham Festival in March where she became the first woman to claim the Leading Jockey award with six winners, a figure that has only been topped by Ruby Walsh.From Tuesday’s Champion Hurdle success on Henry De Bromhead's mare Honeysuckle, right through to Friday’s Triumph Hurdle victory on Quilixios, the Killenaule native dominated on the track. She recorded doubles on the middle days of the festival; winning on both De Bromhead's Bob Olinger and Willie Mullins' Sir Gerhard on Wednesday and on Mullins' Allaho and the De Bromhead trained Tellmesomethinggirl the following afternoon.Rachael’s head-lining act reached new levels at Aintree only weeks later where she truly ascended into superstar status. She became the first woman to ride the winner of the iconic Grand National with her success on Waterford trainer De Bromhead's Minella Times described as “historic” by President Michael D Higgins, “a truly amazing achievement” by An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue T.D, saying, “You are once again a history maker and have done Ireland proud.”
16 April 2021; Local children, from left, Will, age 4, and Annabelle Burke, age 5, and sisters Lauren, age 9, Chloe, age 10 and Emma Stagg, age 11, from Hollymount, Co Mayo, cheer on jockey Rachael Blackmore as she wins the McGrath Limestone Works Handicap Hurdle on Zoffanien at Ballinrobe Racecourse in Mayo. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Rachael will be presented with her 2021 Irish Racing Hero Award at the annual Horse Racing Ireland Awards in early December. Nominations for the remaining awards categories, Horse of the Year, National Hunt Award, National Hunt Achievement Award, Flat Award, Flat Achievement Award, Point-to-Point Award and the Emerging Talent Award will be announced tomorrow.Suzanne Eade, interim CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, said: “Rachael’s achievements on two of jump racing’s biggest stages are truly historic. “Not only was she the first woman to ride the winner of a championship race at Cheltenham, but Rachael also became the first woman to win the Leading Jockey award at the festival. It is remarkable that her six winners included five at Grade 1 level.“Her Aintree Grand National victory made headlines all over the world and that accomplishment alone will resonate with so many within the racing industry and beyond.“Rachael has become more than a role model; she is a true icon of our wonderful sport and a most fitting winner of the 2021 Irish Racing Hero Award.”
MINELLA TIMES (Rachael Blackmore) wins the Randox Grand National at AINTREE 10/4/21
Photograph by Grossick Racing Photography 0771 046 1723
Rachael Blackmore’s 2021 Cheltenham Festival winners:Tuesday March 16Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1)HONEYSUCKLE Owner: Kenny Alexander. Trainer: Henry De BromheadWednesday March 17Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)BOB OLINGER (IRE) Owner: Robcour. Trainer: Henry De BromheadWeatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1)SIR GERHARD (IRE) Owner: Cheveley Park Stud. Trainer: Willie MullinsThursday March 18Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)ALLAHO Owner: Cheveley Park Stud. Trainer: Willie Mullins Parnell Properties Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)TELMESOMETHINGGIRL (IRE) Owner: Kenny Alexander. Trainer: Henry De Bromhead Friday March 19JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)QUILIXIOS Owner: Cheveley Park Stud. Trainer: Henry De BromheadRachael Blackmore's Aintree Grand National winner:Saturday April 10Randox Grand National Handicap ChaseMINELLA TIMES Owner: JP McManus. Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
