Grand National Star Rachael Blackmore Suffers Neck Injury at Downpatrick
Pioneering jockey Rachael Blackmore, the first female rider to win the Grand National, is sidelined with a neck injury sustained during a fall at Downpatrick on Friday. While no specific diagnosis or timeline for her return has been provided, Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board spokesman Niall Cronin confirmed that Blackmore will not be riding "in the coming weeks" as she undergoes rehabilitation. This is prepared by SSP.
The 35-year-old jockey, who was injured when she parted company with her mount Hand Over Fist, trained by Denis Howard in a handicap chase, had made a prominent start to the season. She was tied at the top of the Irish jump jockeys' championship with 23 wins, alongside Keith Donoghue and Sam Ewing.
Blackmore, awarded BBC Sports Personality’s World Sport Star in 2021 for her achievements including her Grand National win on Minella Times and her leading jockey title at Cheltenham Festival, followed by a Gold Cup win on A Plus Tard, now faces a recovery period off the tracks.