Rachael Blackmore has given a rare insight into her personal life following her retirement from the saddle in early May.  The Grand National and Gold Cup-winning rider called time on her career last month saying: "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." The horse racing legend posted several pictures to her over 60,000 followers on Instagram recently - which included snaps with her partner, Brian Hayes, as well as of her enjoying a holiday, dinner, and social events with her friends and family.  Rachel and Brian are in a long-term relationship and though they keep their personal life mostly out of the public eye, she did open up about their shared home life in a 2021 interview. "I live with two other jockeys, Patrick Mullins and Brian Hayes," she revealed. "It's a great house, located in Leighlinbridge, Carlow, close to all the big tracks in Ireland." She added: "We don’t talk about racing half as much as people think. It’s just a normal house when we come home." Rachel made international headlines in 2021 when she teamed up with the Henry de Bromhead-trained Minella Times - which boasts strong Clonmel connections - to win the world’s greatest steeplechase at Aintree – the first woman to do so. Speaking in an interview recently following her retirement, the Killenaule native opened up about her decision, revealing that the first inklings of retirement surfaced during the Cheltenham Festival in March. “When I was leaving the weighing room at Cheltenham on Friday this year, for the first time I just had a little thought in my head: ‘Will I be back here next season?’” she shared. Blackmore’s final win came earlier this month at Cork, when she guided Ma Belle Etoile to victory. It was the moment, she said, that solidified herplaceholder image
Rachael Blackmore has given a rare insight into her personal life following her retirement from the saddle in early May.  The Grand National and Gold Cup-winning rider called time on her career last month saying: "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." The horse racing legend posted several pictures to her over 60,000 followers on Instagram recently - which included snaps with her partner, Brian Hayes, as well as of her enjoying a holiday, dinner, and social events with her friends and family.  Rachel and Brian are in a long-term relationship and though they keep their personal life mostly out of the public eye, she did open up about their shared home life in a 2021 interview. "I live with two other jockeys, Patrick Mullins and Brian Hayes," she revealed. "It's a great house, located in Leighlinbridge, Carlow, close to all the big tracks in Ireland." She added: "We don’t talk about racing half as much as people think. It’s just a normal house when we come home." Rachel made international headlines in 2021 when she teamed up with the Henry de Bromhead-trained Minella Times - which boasts strong Clonmel connections - to win the world’s greatest steeplechase at Aintree – the first woman to do so. Speaking in an interview recently following her retirement, the Killenaule native opened up about her decision, revealing that the first inklings of retirement surfaced during the Cheltenham Festival in March. “When I was leaving the weighing room at Cheltenham on Friday this year, for the first time I just had a little thought in my head: ‘Will I be back here next season?’” she shared. Blackmore’s final win came earlier this month at Cork, when she guided Ma Belle Etoile to victory. It was the moment, she said, that solidified her

PICTURES: Recently retired jockey Rachael Blackmore shares rare glimpse into personal life

The Grand National and Gold Cup winner from Killenaule, Co Tipperary, Rachel Blackmore, has given a glimpse into her personal life 

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