Rachael Blackmore paused for a long moment before speaking, the emotion unmistakable in her voice. For the woman who shattered every ceiling a Jump jockey was ever handed, Thursday’s news carried a weight even she admitted felt “surreal.” The legendary rider, along with the trailblazing Anthony brothers, has been inducted into the Hall of Fame Cheltenham, an honour that cements her legacy at the very place where so many of her career-defining moments unfolded.
A Rider Who Changed the Sport Forever
Blackmore’s retirement in May brought an end to a career that not only made history but reshaped expectations for generations of riders to come. Her 2021 Grand National triumph aboard Minella Times made her an international sensation, but Cheltenham was where her connection with racegoers reached its deepest note.
As an ambassador for the racecourse, her partnership with trainer Henry de Bromhead remains one of the great modern alliances of the sport. Together they conquered all five championship races at Jump Racing’s premier meeting, with Honeysuckle’s back-to-back Champion Hurdle victories in 2021 and 2022 standing out among the festival’s most cherished memories. A Plus Tard’s 2022 Gold Cup, Captain Guinness’ Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2024, Envoi Allen’s Ryanair Chase in 2023 and Bob Olinger’s Stayers’ Hurdle this year completed a remarkable roll of honour.
Her 18 Festival winners and global accolades — including the BBC Sports Personality of the Year World Sport Star award — underline a career that transcended the sport.
“Cheltenham is an incredibly special place,” Blackmore said. “Some of the best days of my life happened here. To be recognised alongside the greats is a huge honour.”
The Brothers Who Ruled the Gold Cup
If Blackmore dominated the modern era, the Anthony brothers shaped the very foundations of Cheltenham’s history. From 1927 to 1941, Jack, Ivor and Owen Anthony carved their names into the Gold Cup’s earliest chapters, collecting seven victories between them.
Thrown In struck first in 1927 before Easter Hero became a dual champion in 1929 and 1930 — the kind of horse that defined an age. Golden Miller, trained by Owen Anthony in 1936, remains one of the sport’s immortals, and the family’s remarkable run continued through Morse Code (1938), Roman Hackle (1940) and Poet Prince (1941).
Their influence extended beyond the Gold Cup. Each brother trained a Champion Hurdle winner, proof that their dominance ran deep across the festival’s marquee contests.
Formal Induction Awaits
Blackmore and the Anthonys will be formally inducted on Friday, the opening day of Cheltenham’s November Meeting. Cheltenham CEO Guy Lavender described the honour as “the only fitting recognition” for individuals who fundamentally shaped the sport.
“The Hall of Fame celebrates the very best in Jump Racing,” Lavender said. “Rachael’s achievements are simply on another level. And the Anthony brothers were instrumental in establishing the Gold Cup’s early stature.”
Today, the Hall of Fame stands as a living timeline suspended above the racecourse walkway — a constellation of legends that includes Golden Miller, Arkle, The Queen Mother, Best Mate, Kauto Star, Tiger Roll, Ruby Walsh and Sir A P McCoy.
Now, two more remarkable stories join them.
A celebration of legacy and excellence, the Hall of Fame Cheltenham induction of Rachael Blackmore and the Anthony brothers highlights the heroes who defined Jump Racing’s past and present.
For more racing features and detailed coverage, stay tuned to RaceBuzz.
