‘It’s going to be a very different experience’ – Gold Cup-winning rider Rachael Blackmore handed new role at Cheltenham
Gold Cup-winning jockey Rachael Blackmore will return to Cheltenham this weekend for the first time since retirement when she begins a new role with the course.
Blackmore, who won the festival’s biggest prize on A Plus Tard in 2022, has been appointed in an ambassadorial role as head of ladies’ day on March 11, in a move to encourage more women to go racing.
It is the first time since 2019 that day two of the Cheltenham Festival has been named ladies’ day, with the past five years labelled ‘Style Wednesday’. The recent change is one of several made to the four-day meeting, which includes the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle on day one moving to day three. In September, a cut to drinks prices, car parking upgrades and an attendance cap were announced.
Blackmore, who was crowned leading rider at the festival in 2021, is looking forward to beginning her new role. She said: “It’s 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.
A Plus Tard and Rachael Blackmore: Gold Cup winnersCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)
“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.”
Data collated by the Jockey Club shows that, on average, only a quarter of visitors at Cheltenham during the season are women, with the industry average for jump racing sitting at 39 per cent, and Blackmore is hoping that situation improves.
She said: “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.”
Cheltenham chief executive Guy Lavender described the Grand National-winning rider as a “household name” and is looking forward to working alongside her. He said: “Rachael’s ground-breaking success on the track, combined with her growing status as a role model beyond the sport and popularity with people of all ages, makes her the ideal ambassador to connect the Cheltenham Festival with a new, female-focused audience.”
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