Rachael Blackmore has expanded on the reason why she decided to retire from the saddle

The tributes continue to pour in for Tipperary's own Rachael Blackmore, who last week announced her immediate retirement from horse racing.

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Speaking in an interview last Tuesday, 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 decision to step away.

“I was going to Cork the other day and I thought, ‘If this one wins then maybe that’s the time to call it’.”

While the 34-year-old has no immediate plans for her next move, she’s embracing the chance to reflect and reset after a life consumed by the demands of elite racing.

“It wasn’t part of a massive plan to retire that Saturday. There is nothing set up, but I am very lucky that I can take a few weeks and decide what might be next,” she said. “It will be a very different life from the one I had previously.”

Rachael Blackmore has carved her name into the annals of sporting history. From becoming the first woman to win the Grand National to lifting the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle, she has consistently defied expectations, smashed glass ceilings, and inspired a generation.

Social media has been awash with tributes, with fans and racing figures alike lauding her grace, humility, and sheer talent. One supporter wrote: "Rachael Blackmore - top class in and out of the saddle, incredible career."

Sanctuary Runners Ireland also weighed in: “We salute the amazing Rachael Blackmore this week as she announces her retirement. A class act on the track and off it.”

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Among her many admirers, legendary trainer Aidan O’Brien described her as a “legend in her own lifetime”, while fellow jockey Katie Walsh offered a heartfelt tribute: “She had a great way of reading races, she was strong both physically and mentally… she was just absolutely brilliant.”