Rachael is star rider at races
Record- breaking Rachael Blackmore will be the star attraction on sold- out Edinburgh Gin Ladies Day at Perth Racecourse on Thursday this week.
The first female jockey to win the Aintree Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup, she is booked for the ride on Brave Way in the £15,000 DM Hall 125th Anniversary Novices’ Chase.
Having opened her account as an amateur in 2011, Rachael has become a household name after landing the 2021 Grand National aboard Minella Times and this year’s Gold Cup in March on A Plus Tard.
Brave Way carries the colours of locally- based Kenny Alexander – owner of Blackmore’s multiple Grade One partner Honeysuckle – and she is also the first Perth runner for County Waterford trainer Henry De Bromhead.
Hazel Peplinski, Perth Racecourse CEO, said: “I feel I need to give Kenny Alexander the credit for providing us with the icing on the cake to our sell-out Edinburgh Gin
Ladies Day in the shape of a surprise appearance from the world-class jockey Rachael Blackmore.
“Rachael is stable jockey to Henry de Bromhead with whom Kenny has a few horses including the legendary Champion hurdler, Honeysuckle.
“Ireland has long provided Perth with a huge number of runners, to now have Henry de Bromhead also setting the satnav for Perth has given us all a real kick.
“I often see Kenny walking his dogs here at Perth, he once advised me that he has this good young mare worth a follow – Honeysuckle – and then after all Rachel’s success I made encouraging noises about introducing Perth’s race programme to Henry in the hope our loyal racegoers might enjoy Rachael’s incredible talent on home soil.”
Matthew Taylor, Perth Racecourse racing manager, said: “We are excited to welcome 62 runners to Perth for Edinburgh Gin Ladies Day, as we welcome a crowd back for the first time since 2019 as well as Gold Cup and Grand National winning jockey Rachael Blackmore.”