Rachael Blackmore honoured among legends ahead of Grand National
Rachael Blackmore is now part of an exclusive club after being honoured at the Grand National.
The 2021 Grand National winner was inducted into the official honours roll ahead of the 2026 race, which takes place on Saturday, April 11. She became a legend and joined the ranks of some of the most esteemed names in horse racing, like JP McManus, Ginger McCain, and Jenny Pittman.
It’s just another honour for the jockey who confirmed her retirement in May last year, and is expecting a child after marrying her partner Brian Hayes back in January.
Former jockey Rachael Blackmore opens Blackmore’s Bar, a new alcohol-free facility alongside Julian Taylor chairman of Aintree Racecourse on day one of the Randox Grand National Festival 2026 at Aintree Racecourse. Pic: David Davies for The Jockey Club/PA Wire
Her induction coincided with the opening of the renamed venue, Blackmore’s bar, named after the Tipperary woman to honour her illustrious career. The venue features artwork by street art experts MurWalls and art created by students at the local Holy Rosary School in Aintree.
The venue offers an alcohol-free environment and serves coffee and pastries. To mark the opening, the first 100 coffees were given out for free.
In what was a very busy week for Blackmore, she also took part in the Grand Launch event for the Aintree festival at Exchange Flags in Liverpool city centre.
Blackmore celebrates. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Speaking to The Mirror, Blackmore discussed her big win in 2021. ‘Winning the Randox Grand National at Aintree on Minella Times is a moment in my life I will never forget. Seeing my name now included on the list of Grand National Legends is such an honour, I feel very lucky to be part of that history.
‘I’m also looking forward to opening Blackmore’s Bar at the racecourse, something I definitely thought I would never be saying! It’s a cool idea and something a bit different that people can hopefully enjoy during the week.
Dickon White, The Jockey Club’s North West Regional Director, added: ‘Rachael’s outstanding achievement in the Randox Grand National speaks for itself and it seems only right that she has been made a Grand National Legend at the earliest opportunity.’
