Rachael Blackmore Honoured at HRI Awards in Ireland
Elle
Dec 18th 2025
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During a ceremony in Dublin on Monday night, Rachael Blackmore was given the highest honor by Horse Racing Ireland. This was another landmark in a career that has changed the way the sport has been perceived. She received the contribution to the industry award, reserved for individuals whose major impact on sports extends well beyond race results.
On behalf of Horse Racing Ireland, Suzanne Eade, the CEO, conveyed the honour and talked highly of Rachael Blackmore’s extensive list of accomplishments. She focused mainly on the jockey’s 33 Grade 1 wins and an incredible record at the Cheltenham Festival from where she brought home 18 wins over several seasons. Eade also mentioned Rachael Blackmore’s wins in the most glamorous events like the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and, above all, her landmark Grand National success in 2021. That win made her the first female to ever win the event, a go-to moment that struck fans and professionals, getting their strong support.
Eade mentioned that one of the reasons in the covid period, Rachael Blackmore made so many unforgettable shows, was the fact that there was a limited public attendance and in that way it was a lot of pressure for the sport. Her winning streak at that time was very influential to the whole sports industry in Ireland and it really gave a lot of people hope who were watching the races through TV.
Eade also said that the commitment and coolness of Rachael Blackmore were very motivating to the young people who were starting their careers in the field, thus her being a major influence on sports as a role model again.
While Rachael Blackmore’s recognition served as a central moment of the night, the Horse Racing Ireland ceremony produced several other notable outcomes. The horse of the year contest resulted in an unusual tie, with Willie Mullins’ Galopin Des Champs and Ethical Diamond sharing the title. Galopin Des Champs retained his hold on the award following another strong campaign, while Ethical Diamond’s unexpected Breeders’ Cup triumph at Del Mar delivered Mullins his first success at the American meeting. The tie marked only the second time the category had been shared since 2015, when Faugheen and Don Cossack split the honour. These results reflected the Horse Racing Ireland event’s ongoing role in recognising achievements that have a major impact on sports nationwide.
Mullins’ yard enjoyed a particularly strong presence throughout the ceremony. After another great season, the champion trainer was the main winner of the National Hunt award, which he used to confirm his status as the leader of Irish jump racing. His son, Patrick Mullins, was also honoured and he got the National Hunt achievement award. Many people were talking about his excellent ride on Nick Rockett in the Grand National, which was one of the great moments of his year, thus giving another example of how single accomplishments can dramatically influence the sports sector in Ireland.
Dylan Browne McMonagle was recognized for his excellent performance, in which he won the Irish champion jockey title. His consistency and careful use of tactics throughout the season made him a clear leader in the rankings, and as a result, he won the Flat award and confirmed his position as one of the top young riders in the country.
Joe Murphy from Tipperary was the last individual winner of the round to cycle through the list of accomplishments, taking flat racing performance of the year. A remarkable moment of Murphy’s campaign came when Cercene fired a mare to the top in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, the most important win of his career. The success drew attention to his stable’s steady progress and the skill with which he guided Cercene through her campaign.
Across the evening, speakers touched on the depth of ability present in Irish racing and the level of commitment required to reach the top of the sport. Rachael Blackmore’s career was frequently brought up as an example of the level that a lot of people aim for. One of the main points of her story has always been her climb from being almost unknown to becoming recognized worldwide, which is often used as the very first piece of evidence that a strong will and steady progress can be the way to success that lasts.
After receiving the award, Rachael Blackmore show her thank you to those who had been her pillars throughout her professional journey. She mentioned the importance of people in her life like trainers, owners, stable staff, and friends, who were the ones that provided her with the power to continue. She promised that even though she has stopped riding, she is going to remain in the racing industry and is looking forward to making a contribution in a different way.
The Horse Racing Ireland Awards illustrated once again the great breadth of accomplishment that have been made in the two codes of the sport. The gala mirrored Irish racing at various levels in its depth as it was just about the lighting up jockeys, the bright trainers coming through, and the record-breaking equine stars. Yet the night ultimately belonged to Rachael Blackmore, whose influence on the sport continues even after her final professional ride.
