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‘True Icon’: Trailblazing Jockey Rachael Blackmore To Be Honored With 2021 Irish Racing Hero Award

Jockey Rachael Blackmore will be awarded the 2021 Irish Racing Hero Award at the annual Horse Racing Ireland Awards in December.

Blackmore became the first woman to claim the Cheltenham Festival Leading Jockey title with six winners. She found Champion Hurdle success with Honeysuckle (GB) on Tuesday, a Triumph Hurdle score with Quilixios (GB) on Friday and also won races in the middle of the meeting with Bob Olinger (Ire) and Sir Gerhard (Ire) on Wednesday, and Allaho (Fr) and Telmesomethinggirl (Ire) on Thursday.

She became the first woman to ride the winner of the iconic G3 Grand National with her success on Minella Times (Ire) described as “historic” by President Michael D Higgins, “a truly amazing achievement” by An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue T.D, saying, “You are once again a history maker and have done Ireland proud.”

Suzanne Eade, interim CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, said: “Rachael's achievements on two of jump racing's biggest stages are truly historic. Not only was she the first woman to ride the winner of a championship race at Cheltenham, but Rachael also became the first woman to win the Leading Jockey Award at the festival. It is remarkable that her six winners included five at Grade 1 level.

“Her Aintree Grand National victory made headlines all over the world and that accomplishment alone will resonate with so many within the racing industry and beyond.

“Rachael has become more than a role model; she is a true icon of our wonderful sport and a most fitting winner of the 2021 Irish Racing Hero Award.”

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Kevin Flanery To Be Honored With Warner L. Jones Horseman Of The Year Award This Saturday

Kevin Flanery, who retired as the 13th Churchill Downs Racetrack President last December, will be honored Saturday with the Warner L. Jones Jr. Horseman of the Year Award at the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners' 33rd annual awards gala at the Kentucky Derby Museum.

Cocktails begin at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are available for $125, which include dinner and drinks, by contacting Marlene Meyer at (502) 458-5820.

The award recognizes individuals for outstanding contributions to Kentucky racing and sharing the passion exemplified by Jones, who spent 50 years on the Churchill Downs board, including eight as chairman during the iconic track's resurgence. Warner Jones – the first, and so far only breeder of a Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Breeders' Cup winner – was the inaugural award winner in 1988, six years before his death.

Steve Asmussen, the 2020 recipient, will also be honored since last year's event was not able to be staged.

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Trainer Joe Radosevich Passes At Age 84

Trainer Joseph L. Radosevich, 84, husband of Jacqueline Marchio Radosevich, passed away Monday, Oct. 25, 2021.

A former steel mill worker in the Midwest, Radosevich began his career with horses competing in horse shows and by unloading trailers after his shift. He then began training Quarter Horses before moving to Thoroughbreds in what would become a training career that spanned more than 50 years. He loved attending horse sales, farm and livestock auctions, watching horse racing, detailing his trucks and spending time with his family.

According to Equibase, Radosevich trained 558 winners from 5,127 starters since online records began being kept in 1980.

In addition to his wife of 62 years, he is survived by his children, Joey Radosevich, Jeff (Yvonne) Radosevich, Jill Radosevich Chamblin, and Jake (Shelly) Radosevich; grandchildren, Jackie (Brian) Watson, Jennifer Radosevich, Jamie (Brian) Hernandez, Jacob Radosevich, Justin Radosevich, Josie Radosevich, Matthew Chamblin, Michael Chamblin and Joshua Radosevich; as well as eight great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Jack and Bob Radosevich and grandson, Josh Radosevich.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Permanently Disabled Jockey's Fund, PO Box 803, Elmhurst, IL 60126

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Irad Ortiz, Jr. Voted Jockey Of The Week After Fourth Straight Shoemaker Award

Three-time Eclipse Award winner Irad Ortiz, Jr. travelled to the West Coast from his base in New York for the races at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club during Breeders' Cup week. He returned to New York having won four stakes at Del Mar and put an exclamation point on his outstanding week by winning a stakes race at Belmont Park on Sunday. His accomplishments earned Jockey of the Week Nov. 1 through Nov. 7. The award, which is voted on by a panel of racing experts, is for jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.

Breeders' Cup weekend began with “Future Stars Friday” with all stakes races dedicated to two-year-olds. Riding for trainer John Sadler, Ortiz, Jr. was aboard Big Switch in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies Presented by PNC. Off in post position six in the field of eight, Big Switch took command in upper stretch and drew off to a convincing 2-3/4 lengths victory in 1:22.39 for six furlongs.

”I didn't have to do much,” said Ortiz. “I had a good trip. She just ran and that's all there was to it.”

Trainer Wesley Ward and Ortiz, Jr. combined for the third straight year to win the G2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. This year Ortiz, Jr. was aboard Twilight Gleaming (IRE). The fastest out of the gate, Twilight Gleaming (IRE) led all the way to win by a half-length over Go Bears Go covering the five furlongs on the turf in :56.24.

On Saturday, the duo of trainer Wesley Ward and Ortiz, Jr. struck again with Golden Pal in the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Golden Pal went right to the lead and was never pressured, posting a 1-1/4-length win for the five furlongs on the turf in: 54.75.

“I was happy to get the lead easily and he responded to me when I asked him for the run down the stretch,” said Ortiz, Jr.

The next race saw Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher give a leg up to Ortiz, Jr. on Life Is Good in the G1 Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Life Is Good took command out of the gate and cruised to 5-3/4 lengths victory after a mild challenge from Ginobili.

“I had the perfect trip,” said Ortiz, Jr. “When we go to the quarter pole, he re-broke for me. What a nice horse to ride.”

Ortiz, Jr. was awarded the Bill Shoemaker Award for the fourth year in a row as Outstanding Jockey at the Breeders' Cup.

Back to Belmont Park on Sunday, Ortiz, Jr. was aboard Orglandes (FR) for trainer Chad Brown in the Zagora for fillies and mares three-years-old and up going 1-1/2 miles on the Widener turf. Off as the favorite in the field of seven, Orglandes (FR) got up right before the wire to win by a neck over Beautiful Love and Joel Rosario in 2:29.28. Ortiz, Jr. also collected the leading rider title at Belmont Park.

Ortiz, Jr. outpolled Mitchell Murrill with the most wins for the week, Jose L. Ortiz with two G1 Breeders' Cup victories, Joel Rosario with two G1 Breeders' Cup wins and Chantal Sutherland with nine wins for the week.

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