Behind the racecourse glitz, Rachael is in a long-term relationship with fellow jockey Brian Hayes and lives in an interesting housing situation with two other jockeys
Rachael Blackmore has firmly established herself as one of Ireland’s most celebrated jockeys. Her remarkable victory at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival and her historic Aintree Grand National win truly solidified her place in racing history. She was later named the RTE Sportsperson of the Year, a fitting recognition of her transition from racing star to mainstream icon.
But while we’re all familiar with Rachael on the racecourse, what’s life like when the helmet’s off? Rachael, 35, announced her first book Granny National, a children’s story about a grandmother’s dream of becoming a jockey and the friends who help her make it come true. The book is set for release in May, and it’s already available for pre-order.
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Behind the racecourse glitz, Rachael is in a long-term relationship with fellow jockey Brian Hayes. Though the couple keeps their personal life mostly out of the public eye, Rachael did open up about their shared home life in a 2021 interview. “I live with two other jockeys, Patrick Mullins and Brian Hayes,” she revealed. “It’s a great house, located in Leighlinbridge, Carlow, close to all the big tracks in Ireland.”
While most might expect constant talk of racing, Rachael admitted, “We don’t talk about racing half as much as people think. It’s just a normal house when we come home.” While Rachael’s exact net worth remains undisclosed, The Racing Post estimates her career prize money to be well over €9 million. Her journey from one of Ireland’s finest jockeys to a mainstream icon continues to unfold both on and off the track.
Rachael’s journey to National glory hasn’t been without its hurdles. Her first taste of the Grand National came in 2018 when she rode Alpha des Obeaux. Unfortunately, it ended in a fall at The Chair, but it marked the beginning of her pursuit of one of racing’s most prestigious prizes. A year later, she returned to Aintree, this time riding Valseur Lido, finishing 10th at 66-1 odds.
As reported by the Mirror, in 2020, there was no renewal of the race due to the pandemic, but in 2021, everything changed. Rachael’s ride on Minella Times delivered the historic win that elevated her from an admired Irish jockey to a household name in National Hunt racing. The victory marked a milestone, showing the world that she was not just one of the best in Ireland, but one of the most beloved figures in the sport.
However, the following year, Minella Times’ attempt at a repeat victory ended in a fall. Still, Rachael was undeterred. In 2023, she saddled Ain’t That A Shame, another horse trained by Henry de Bromhead, but her hopes for victory were dashed. Now, she has Minella Indo—a familiar mount with whom she hopes to reclaim glory at Aintree once again. It’s a testament to Rachael’s resilience and skill that, even after setbacks, she continues to return stronger than ever, aiming for that elusive second Grand National win.
In a recent heartbreaking incident at Aintree, Rachael found herself in an ambulance after her horse, Willy De Houelle, suffered a fatal fall during the Grade 1 Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle race on Thursday. The four-year-old horse, owned by Rich Ricci and trained by Willie Mullins, fell heavily during the race, throwing Blackmore from the saddle.
Though a tough moment in her career at the moment, Rachael’s resilience and determination has carried her to shine through, both in her personal life and on the racetrack.
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