Trailblazing jockey Rachel Blackmore announces retirement

One of the best to ever do it.

Jockey Rachel Blackmore has announced her retirement from horse racing at the age of 35.

In 2021, the Tipperary native was the first female to win the Grand National, on Minella Times and the first female to be named leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival, where she had six victories, including the Champion Hurdle.

The next year she became the first female to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup, on A Plus Tard, and added another Champion Hurdle, again on the Henry de Bromhead trained Honeysuckle.

She has 18 victories at Cheltenham, with her last one coming in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle.

In a statement on her social media she said: "My days of being a jockey have come to an end

"I feel the time is right. I'm sad but I'm also incredibly grateful for what my life has been for the past 16 years.

"I just feel so lucky to have been legged up on the horses I have, and to have experienced success I never even dreamt could be possible."

Blackmore also thanked John 'Shark' Hanlon for training her first winner, Stowaway Pear in 2011.