Legendary jockey Rachael Blackmore was banned for breaching whip regulations at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. Blackmore, 36, further enhanced her outstanding record at Cheltenham by claiming victory in two races during the four-day meeting last March. Blackmore completed the full set of open championship races at Cheltenham when she steered Bob Olinger to victory in the Stayers’ Hurdle.
Yet two days prior, Blackmore was referred to the BHA’s Whip Referral Committee after exceeding the permitted whip strike limit during the Ultima Handicap Chase. Blackmore was aboard The Short Go, which ultimately finished fifth among 24 runners, when she was found to have struck the horse once beyond the allowed seven times.
The panel considered that Blackmore had not committed a whip breach in 75 races across Great Britain, resulting in a reduced and less severe penalty. Ultimately, the panel handed Blackmore a six-day suspension from Friday, March 28, to Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
Blackmore made history as the first female jockey to triumph in the Grand National. She also boasts an extraordinary record at Cheltenham, having claimed the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Champion Hurdle twice and Ryanair Chase twice.
The superstar rider captivated fans for nearly a decade and confirmed her retirement via social media last May, having secured 575 victories as a professional jockey. The Irish-born star’s Grand National triumphs earned her RTE Sports Person of the Year and BBC World Sport Star of the Year honours.
Blackmore wed her long-term partner, and fellow jockey, Brian Hayes, in a private ceremony in January and the pair are expecting their first child in May. She recently discussed with the Daily Mail the experience of attending the Cheltenham Festival whilst retired.
« Part of me isn’t going to enjoy the week massively, » Blackmore said. « I love racing; I love riding and this week in March has been such a spike, the pinnacle for the last few years. That’s not going to be there this week and I’m not sure how that makes me feel. It’s different territory, that’s for sure.
« I’ve been kept very busy, which has been great. I’m involved in plenty of things with racecourses and I’ll be promoting Ladies Day on Wednesday. It’s nice for me to have a reason to go back (to Cheltenham). I haven’t gone racing too much as I think I’m still adjusting to not being a jockey. »
Blackmore was among three jockeys sanctioned for breaching whip regulations on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival in 2024. Sean Flanagan, who finished second on William Munny in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, was found to have misused his whip and received a four-day ban.
Meanwhile, Tom Harney received a 12-day ban after exceeding the whip limit by one stroke on fifth-placed Slurricane in the Fred Winter Hurdle. He was also deemed to have used his whip without allowing his horse sufficient time to respond following the final flight.
The Cheltenham Festival begins Tuesday, March 10, and spans four thrilling days. The prestigious meeting showcases 28 world-class jumps races at Prestbury Park.
Source link
