Betfair, ahead of Christmas, launched a brief yet atmospheric movie in honour of Rachael Blackmore, one of its brand representatives. Discussing herself and her achievements is a constant challenge for Blackmore, often making her feel uneasy. So, instead of having her speak, they chose to use different voices to articulate her story.
The video is part of the “Serial Winners” series, where her episode is christened “Game Changer” — a title that seems befitting. But what exactly does ‘game changer’ imply? Did she transform the game completely? Can one top player single-handedly overthrow decades of unrefuted prejudice?
In 2021, approximately a month following Blackmore bagging the pivotal title of top jockey at the Cheltenham Festival, and only days post her triumphant win as the first female rider at the Grand National, Clare Balding, a well-known broadcaster and previous amateur jockey, pitched an intriguing viewpoint in Racing Post.
“Everyone assumes that Blackmore’s triumph signifies a meritocracy, but it doesn’t,” Balding articulated. “It validates that she is truly exceptional and, when given the chance, she surpasses everyone else. The key question now is – can you simply be granted the same chance and be permitted to place mid-division? That would speak of true equality. It’s about the average. A glance at the jockey standings, both flat and jumps, it is alarmingly noticeable how limited are the regular opportunities for women.”
Blackmore was in her twenties when she opted to turn professional in early 2015. This decision was a pioneering move as no other female jump rider in Ireland had done so since Maria Cullen in the 1980s. Not even talented jockeys like Nina Carberry and Katie Walsh had taken this step, despite their successful careers and family connections. They chose to not to let their gender confine them in a sport predominantly controlled by men. However, staying in the amateur ranks was still beneficial for them.
Not long after Blackmore’s professional turn, Katie O’Farrell also turned professional. However, her trajectory was unique.
O’Farrell asserts her dissenting viewpoint with notable exhaustion, criticising individuals who exalt Rachael Blackmore’s name to insist that the racing domain has evolved, even though she believes it clearly hasn’t. O’Farrell argues that it’s the sport that is fortunate to have someone like Rachael, refuting the widespread belief that it’s all about meritocracy. She shares her own gruelling journey to professionalism as an example, claiming that despite her commendable efforts, on some occasions, her gender stood against her.
O’Farrell emphasises her frustrations with the mistreatment and biases women face in racing. She comments on the lack of up-and-coming female riders and implies the industry still has a long way to go, despite advancements.
She disputes the romanticised narrative of racing’s progression, stating that Rachael is more an exception than the standard. The narrative extends to the challenges of breaking into the industry, which are akin for male jockeys. Inequality remains evident in the allotment of prime opportunities. According to O’Farrell, female riders often find it tougher to land quality horses, and she presently observes this bias.
She clarifies, however, that her struggles were occasionally mitigated by the support she received from various individuals. She candidly divulges that there were others who wanted to endorse her but couldn’t because of constraints like owners wanting a specific jockey. O’Farrell stresses the importance of accepting circumstances beyond one’s control in the business.
Aine O’Connor, an amateur jockey for the past 14 years frequently sporting JP McManus’ colours, comments on the inequities faced in horse racing, particularly for women. From her perspective, female jockeys are criticized more harshly after a lousy performance, often blamed not just on their skill but stuck with demeaning remarks such as ‘she wasn’t strong enough’. This despite the fact that time and again women jockeys have demonstrated equal competence to their male counterparts. It’s unfortunate that while racing is lauded for its progression, individuals like Rachael remain exceptions rather than the norm.
In addition to being an active jockey, O’Connor also works for Horse Racing Ireland, focusing on developing young riders – from training to education and holistic growth. Recently, as she sifted through submissions for the upcoming junior academy courses, it wasn’t a surprise to her that the number of female applicants surpassed males, consistent with the trend in recent years.
Yet, there remains an underlying issue, the lack of ambition amongst the girls. Remembering a workshop from her time at Race, the apprentice school, where they explored the youngsters’ aspirations, O’Connor identified a stark disparity. The boys aimed to win a Gold Cup or a Grand National, whereas the girls’ goals were relatively modest, aiming to secure their license and ride.
O’Connor noted that in her judgment, current jockeys are more capable than those 15 years ago given the wealth of resources available. However, she feels women are hesitant to take advantage of them, steeped in the belief that they haven’t ‘earned’ them. It’s the feeling of ‘I’m not experienced enough or well-known enough’ that hinders them from stepping forward and seeking help.
“Girls commonly show less confidence in their capabilities compared to boys, and often hesitate to seize opportunities – this is something I’ve noticed quite frequently,” says O’Connor, stressing how numerous girl participants show no less talent than boys. “The problem isn’t with the industry, but instead with us, women, who likely don’t readily assert ourselves with confidence.”
Even O’Connor acknowledges this reluctance within herself, despite her lengthy career in riding victors. Not every yard boasts a stable jockey, leaving many rides up for grabs by agents or jockeys. However, every intervention comes with a raw reminder of the risk of rejection.
A tale told by Blackmore gives insight into the biases faced by females. As a novice in her career, she contacted a trainer interested in having his horse compete in a bumper. The trainer, unfamiliar with her, mistook her for a jockey’s agent. The rider’s position was seemingly free until Blackmore revealed she was the jockey, instantly met with rejection.
O’Connor admits, “You observe horses in competitions and you hesitate to dial them in, even though no one’s riding them and it’s nearly announcement time at noon. You’re plagued with thoughts such as, ‘Why would they choose me?'”
The hesitance seems coded in their nature, she muses, perhaps due to the fear of imposing on people or doubting their abilities. Conversations with other fellow females reveal they share similar sentiments, she adds, “They always say ‘Oh, I don’t want to burden others.'”
Similar to O’Connor, Maxine O’Sullivan has been among the top amateur riders in the country over the past ten years, and like O’Connor, it was feasible given her lifestyle choices not to proceed to a professional level. Her father, Eugene, is a trainer, and their business thrives on selling point-to-point horses. If O’Sullivan turned professional, she wouldn’t be
allowed to partake in those races.
O’Sullivan has enjoyed a broadly positive trajectory in her horse-racing journey, acknowledging the instrumental role her father plays in providing opportunities and granting her home-front advantages. Comparing her situation with Aine and Rachael’s, who had to struggle without paternal assistance, O’Sullivan voiced admiration for their perseverance despite the challenges.
Caragh Monaghan, a female jockey herself, admits that it could be more difficult for women to get their foot in the door due to some trainers holding onto old-fashioned views. Within flat racing and point-to-points, there is a small schedule of races solely dedicated to female jockeys, with fewer than 20 such races overall. O’Sullivan recognises the potential societal views on such a provision but personally, she welcomed them, as these races were instrumental in networking and establishing trust, an attribute in the industry which is fragile yet potent.
O’Sullivan affirms that throughout her career, the issue was never about her gender but rather the quality of her horse-riding. Fully aware of her strengths and weaknesses, she believes skill and talent take precedence over any other factor. O’Sullivan posits that the success of Rachael might be inspiring more young girls, previously involved in showjumping, to pursue a career in race riding.
However, the amount of female professional jump jockeys in Ireland remains minuscule. Aileen O’Sullivan, having participated in 14 races this season, hasn’t celebrated a win in three years. Other female jockeys such as Emma Twomey have eventually left the racing scene while Sarah Kavanagh, a professional for six seasons, has only this season ridden more than a single winner.
In the previous year, Caragh Monaghan advanced into the world of professional sports. Although she was part of the Meath team that claimed the All-Ireland football championship, her true passion always lay with horse-racing. Gavin Cromwell offered the opportunity that would kickstart her career. She experienced her inaugural victory in November, emerging triumphant in a race aboard a 40/1 outsider for Ian Patrick Donoghue.
Monaghan admits her career is demanding, but the love for the sport triumphs above all, “It’s challenging, I really love it though,” she adds, “Getting rides and gaining momentum is tough, especially now that the competition in Ireland has intensified. However, for a female jockey, it’s particularly challenging. There’s residual prejudice and an extra bit of support goes a long way – if one trainer puts their faith in you, it can do wonders.”
Three years prior, O’Farrell hung up her saddle for the final time. She had ventured to England, initially partnering with Paul Nicholls and later Olly Murphy, but failed to make her mark. She returned to Ireland, participated in a few more races, and then called it a day.
“If you experience setbacks, it takes some time before you can bounce back; it impacts not just your career, but also your self-confidence,” O’Farrell reveals. Now a sports psychologist, she credits this professional shift for helping her manage herself more efficiently. Despite being emotionally shattered, she confesses, “I didn’t want to quit, my spirit was crushed. I’d misplaced all my optimism, enthusiasm, and sense of possibilities. Emotionally, I wasn’t ready to give up, but physically, I had reached my limit.”
The horse racing profession can indeed be ruthless, a facet that remains true to this day.
Don’t forget to check out our Inside Politics Podcast for the latest analysis and discussions, and sign up for notifications to receive the latest news, commentary and opinions directly to your mobile. You can also find The Irish Times on WhatsApp to stay current.