Rachel Blackmore made history over the weekend as the first female jockey to win the Grand National at Aintree, piloting 11-1 chance Minella Times across the wire first on Saturday. Prior to Blackmore's win, the closest a female jockey had come to winning the world's most famous steeplechase race was Katie Walsh's third on Seabass in 2012.
In her post-race interview, Blackmore told the world: “I don't feel male or female right now, I don't even feel human. This is just unbelievable.”
Blackmore told BBC Sport on Tuesday that the victory still hasn't really sunk in.
“It's been such a whirlwind since it happened,” the jockey said. “I haven't really processed the fact that I have won the Aintree Grand National. I've watched the replay a few times – but it's still just hard to comprehend it all.”
She added that the gender disparity hasn't been a major issue for her in her career as a jockey.
“For me in racing it's been extremely level,” Blackmore told BBC Sport. “I think the achievements of Nina Carberry and Katie Walsh, when I entered the weighing room were so big that the gender thing was never an issue.
“I've just carried that forward. For me personally it's never been an experience I have had in racing in recent times, and that's something that racing should be very proud of.”
Female jockeys were first allowed to enter the Grand National in 1975, when the Sex Discrimination Act was passed. Blackmore is the 20th female jockey to compete in the race.
In case you missed it 👀
Or in case you just want another look at history being made 👀
Yes, @rachaelblackmor 🤩#GrandNational @RandoxOfficial #MinellaTimes pic.twitter.com/jR3HgFR8Au
— Aintree Racecourse (@AintreeRaces) April 11, 2021
Read more at BBC Sport.
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