Blackmore, Rachael (1989-…) is an Irish professional jockey. In 2021, Blackmore became the first woman jockey to win the Grand National, riding the horse Minella Times. The Grand National is the world’s most famous steeplechase race, a type of horse racing that involves riding over obstacles. In 2022, Blackmore also became the first woman to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup, riding A Plus Tard (French for See You Later). 
Rachael Blackmore was born on July 11, 1989, in Killenaule, County Tipperary, Ireland. Her family lived on a dairy farm. Blackmore studied equine (horse) science at the University of Limerick. She secured her first win riding as an amateur at the Tipperary lady riders handicap hurdle at Thurles in 2011. After winning several races, Blackmore turned professional in 2015. In 2017, she became the first female jockey to win Ireland’s conditional (apprentice) riders championship.
In 2019, Blackmore won her first race at the Cheltenham Festival riding A Plus Tard in the novices handicap race. The Cheltenham Festival is an annual four-day competition held in Gloucestershire, England. She also won the novices’ hurdle riding the horse Minella Indo. Blackmore rode Honeysuckle to secure her first victory in grade 1—the highest level of competition—in 2019 at the mares novice hurdle championship at Fairyhouse Racecourse in County Meath.
Blackmore won the mares hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival riding Honeysuckle in 2020. She returned to Cheltenham in 2021, winning the champion hurdle riding Honeysuckle and finishing the four-day tournament with six wins. Blackmore became the first woman to win the Ruby Walsh trophy for leading Cheltenham jockey.
