Inside Rachael Blackmore’s life from jockey boyfriend to potential new career path after shock retirement
RACHAEL Blackmore is a household name across Ireland for being one of the best jockeys around - male or female.
So her shock retirement has really reverberated around British as well as Irish horse racing since she announced her decision on Monday.
Her stardom really shot to another stratosphere in 2021 when she was the Leading Jockey at the Cheltenham Festival and also became the first woman to win the Aintree Grand National.
Recognition of how she'd crossed over from a racing star to a mainstream one came when she was duly named the RTE Sportsperson of the Year.
Here, SunSport chronicles her life when she's not in the saddle:
How old is Rachael Blackmore?
The Tipperary native is 35-years-old. Her birthday falls on July 11.
Earlier in 2025 she had dropped a hint that she was preparing for her post-jockey life.
This was evident in March when she announced that she'd written her first book.
Entitled 'Granny National', she also shared the gave a sense of the storyline behind the children's book.
In an Instagram post, she said: "After 3 years it’s finally finished………GRANNY NATIONAL!
Most read in Horse Racing
"My first children’s book is a story about a Granny, her dream of being a jockey and the four friends who hatch a plan to try make it happen.
"It’s out in May and available to pre-order now! Link in bio. I hope it’s enjoyed by children and Grannys from all over!"
Only last week release day came - with the trailblazer proudly sharing a snap of it on shelves in Eason.
Who is her boyfriend?
She has been in a long-term relationship with fellow jockey Brian Hayes for several years now.
They largely shun the spotlight. However, in a 2021 interview she did lift the lid on how they share a house with another jockey star.
She outlined: "I live with two other jockeys, Patrick Mullins and Brian Hayes.
"I am going out with Brian Hayes, so there are three of us here.
"It is a great house to live in and it is in a really good location in Leighlinbridge in Carlow.
"It is close to all the race tracks in Ireland."
Interestingly, she added: "We don't talk about racing half as much as people might think. It is just a normal house when we come home."
Read More on The Sun
What is her net worth?
Blackmore's precise net worth is unknown.
But calculate that the total prize money she's won across her career is in excess of €9m.
