Rachael Blackmore's relationship with Brian Hayes as boyfriend gets special mention

Rachael Blackmore thanked several big names for their continued support when announcing her retirement earlier this week, aged 35. John 'Shark' Hanlon, Henry de Bromhead and Willie Mullins were among those to receive a thank you from the legendary female jockey, as well as her partner Brian Hayes.

The racing couple have kept their relationship somewhat out of the public eye over the years, though that didn't prevent her from sending a light-hearted message to her partner on Monday after thanking her sponsors and backroom team for all of their hard work over the years.

Whilst signing off her retirement announcement, Blackmore wrote: "To all my great friends - you made winning special. Brian Hayes won't enjoy getting a mention, but he was more important to my career than I'll ever be able to thank him for."

The couple have battled it out on the race track on countless occasions, having been together since 2021 when Blackmore let it slip that she was dating Hayes. Speaking on the Doireann Garrihy's Laughs Of Your Life podcast, she said: "I live with two other jockeys, Patrick Mullins and Brian Hayes.

"I am going out with Brian Hayes, so there are three of us here. It is a great house to live in and it is in a really good location in Leighlinbridge in Carlow. We don't talk about racing half as much as people might think. It is just a normal house when we come home."

It is unclear what is next for Blackmore, but she won't be short of offers from numerous different spheres after having such an influence in the world of racing. The star broke down numerous barriers for female jockeys, most notably becoming the first woman to ever win the in 2021 with Minella Times.

Blackmore enjoyed numerous other big race wins during her 16-year career, including 18 winners. She secured a double at this year's Festival when winning the Mares' Novices' Hurdle with Air of Entitlement before battling to victory with Bob Olinger to land the Stayers' Hurdle.

Blackmore's final career victory came over the weekend when she pulled clear aboard 4/1 shot Ma Belle Etoile in the 14.15 at Cork.