Rachael Blackmore’s rise to the pinnacle of horse racing and her historic year is to be captured in a new documentary to be shown on RTÉ over Christmas.
The film has been made by Ross Whittaker who’s work in sport previously told the stories of Katie Taylor, Shane Lowry and the GAA’s Toughest Year.
The project has been developed with the support of Horse Racing Ireland and produced by Fifty-Three Six.
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.
It was a year that could hardly have been imagined 12 months ago. She 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’, she 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 and moves from sitting on her first horse to reaching the very pinnacle of her sport.
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 surprising move but one that proved to be the correct decision for the jockey on an upward curve.
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 this jockey 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.
As Rachael’s stock grew, so did her chances on fancied horses. She didn’t need a second invitation and the winners began to flow, most notably on the incredible mare, Honeysuckle, with whom Rachael was developing an intuitive relationship.
At this year’s Cheltenham Festival, akin to the Olympics of Racing, she rode the popular Honeysuckle to victory in the Champion Hurdle on the opening day.
She went on to win six different races at the Festival before going on to win what is widely regarded as horse racing’s toughest race, The Aintree Grand National, only weeks later.
In this documentary, we are brought inside of the world and the mind of Rachael during the whirlwind month where she had the world at her feet.
Rachael Blackmore: A Grand Year airs on RTÉ One on the 29th of December at 9:25 pm
Check out today’s Daily Video for a preview of what will be a Christmas cracker.
