Inside Rachael Blackmore’s life beyond racing from jockey boyfriend to looming career change

RACHAEL Blackmore is a household name across Ireland for being one of the best jockeys around – male or female.

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.

In March 2025 she revealed that she’s written her first book

The Killenaule ace was named RTE Sportsperson of the Year for 2021Rex

Alongside fellow Irish legend Barry Geraghty while helping out as umpires at the 2023 Hurling for Cancer Research fundraising match

She’s in a long-term relationship with fellow jockey Brian Hayes

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.

As she is approaching the winter of her riding career, she’s clearly looking ahead to the future.

This was evident in March 2025 when she announced that she’s written her first book.

Entitled ‘Granny National’, she also shared the broad brushstrokes of the story the children’s book will tell.

In an Instagram post, she said: “After 3 years it’s finally finished………GRANNY NATIONAL!

“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!”

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.”

What is her net worth?

Blackmore’s precise net worth is unknown.

But The Racing Post calculate that the total prize money she’s won across her career is in excess of €9m.