Rachael Blackmore Jumps To The Top Of The Steeplechase World

Rachael Blackmore

In the world of Thoroughbred racing, famous jockeys are commonplace in every horsehousehold. In the U.S., there’s “Big Money” Mike Smith of Zenyatta and Arrogate fame. There’s three-time consecutive Eclipse Awardwinning Champion Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., who many jokingly believe could win a race on a donkey—riding backwards. And, of course, internationally, there is Lanfranco “Frankie” Dettori, who is only slightly better known than his most successful equine partner, the recently retired Breeders’ Cup Turf and double Arc-winning mare, Enable.

The female side of jockeydom has been mostly relegated to U.S. historical figures. There was Diane Crump, the first and Julie Krone, the winningest. More recently, Canadian Chantal Sutherland combined successful riding and modeling careers and, in the U.S., Rosie Napravnik became famous for her last ride, winning the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Untapable in 2014…while newly pregnant with her first child. History is getting an update.