Legendary jockey Rachael Blackmore to return to racing this weekend in new role with Cheltenham
LEGENDARY jockey Rachael Blackmore will return to racing this weekend – in a brand new role with Cheltenham racecourse.
The trailblazing Gold Cup winner, who announced her retirement in May this year, has been appointed Head of Ladies Day at The Festival.
Sign up for the newsletter
Thank you!
Iconic jockey Rachael Blackmore will be tasked with finding out why more women don’t go to the racesCredit: AFP
Blackmore has stepped into ambassadorial duties with the home of the jumps in a bid to encourage more women to attend the races.
The Wednesday of March’s Festival will this year once again be known as Ladies Day – one of a number of measures announced in recent changes to the biggest punting week of the year.
Blackmore will, for the first time, be at Cheltenham this Friday – the first day of the big November meeting – as a racegoer rather than a jockey.
And she will be tasked with finding out what can be done to encourage more women to enjoy a day at the track.
FESTIVAL FEVER
Book your unforgettable Cheltenham 2026 packages with our exclusive deals
POT PICKERS
Templegate’s Placepot tips for Cheltenham with FREE entry and £150k guaranteed
Blackmore, who was leading jockey at the 2021 Festival, the same year she won the Grand National, said: “It is going to be a very different experience going racing and not heading for the weighing room, but I’m looking forward to seeing what racedays are like from the other side of the rails and working with the team at Cheltenham.
“I’m interested in meeting racegoers to get a proper understanding of why they attend but also what some of the blockers and barriers might be that are stopping their friends and peers from coming.
“Horseracing is an amazing sport and a day at the races provides so much opportunity for people to socialise with friends and meet new people.
“I’m excited to get involved and see what can be done to engage more women and show them what makes a day at the races such a special and unforgettable experience.”
Most read in Horse Racing
Blackmore begins her new role today and she will also be on-site at activations in Birmingham, Oxford and Cardiff at the start of 2026.
Cheltenham boss Guy Lavender said: “We’ve been evaluating customer data and feedback and what really stood out was the opportunity to grow our female fanbase.
“From there we’ve been developing a campaign aimed at encouraging more women to attend racedays and Rachael is exactly the kind of aspirational figure we hope will attract a new fan base to the sport.”
FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chases their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
