GOING IS GOOD FOR RACHAEL
It’s been an incredible year for Irish jockey Rachael Blackmore and an RTÉ documentary goes behind the scenes of her huge success
It’s been quite a 2021 for jockey Rachael Blackmore and she reflects on an ‘unbelievable’ year like no other and her journey to the pinnacle of horse racing in a new RTÉ documentary.
Supported by a stellar cast of horse racing luminaries — AP McCoy, Katie Walsh, Willie Mullins, Ruby Walsh, Henry De Bromhead and Davy Russell — and her family and closest friends, Rachael tells her story in depth for the first time.
Rachael reached truly historic heights, claiming the leading jockey crown at the Cheltenham Festival and becoming the first ever female jockey to win the Aintree Grand National.
‘I don’t feel male or female right now. I don’t even feel human. This is just unbelievable’, Rachael famously said at the Aintree finishing post as she was broadcast on televisions all across the world.
The story begins on a farm in Killenaule, Co Tipperary, where Rachael enjoyed a childhood surrounded by animals and her love affair with horses began.
From sitting on her first horse to winning her first pony race as a teenager, she became enthralled with speed and winning. These are the attributes that would eventually take her to the very pinnacle of her sport.
But there were many obstacles to overcome and doubts along the way. No woman had become a professional jockey in Ireland since the 1980s. There were those who advised her against it, yet
Rachael made the decision to turn professional in 2015 on the back of just seven winners as an amateur, a move that proved to be the correct decision.
Once she had turned professional with the help of Shark Hanlon, things started to improve as her talent, skill-acquisition and hard work began to shine through. Winners didn’t always come easy and whilst there were plenty of lows, there were glimpses of magic along the way that showed she had what it takes to be something special. Leading trainer Henry De Bromhead agreed and gave Rachael her chance. This was to be the beginning of an incredibly successful partnership.
Her experience at Cheltenham this year was beyond anyone’s wildest imagination — she would not only be successful in the Champion Hurdle in emphatic fashion, but go on to win six different races at the Cheltenham Festival before going on to win The Grand National.
Rachael Blackmore: A Grand Year is on RTÉ One on Wednesday at 9.35pm.