Amateur jockey Alice Power hails trailblazer and inspiration Rachael Blackmore
12/06/2024
22 year old Alice Power [Qualified Rider] Photo credit: Healy Racing
Amateur jockey Alice Power has hailed Rachael Blackmore for ‘taking the stigma’ out of being a female jockey as she dreams of emulating her hero’s stunning career in racing.
Waterford-based Power is already making waves as a qualified rider, having earned her first winner on the track in March when partnering Thedancingfarrier, trained by Paul Kiely, to victory at Cork.
She's currently following the career path of Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Blackmore, who similarly came through as a QR before going on to blaze a trail.
And the 22-year-old remains eternally grateful to Blackmore for making it easier for girls to integrate themselves within the sport.
“It’s great [to be a female jockey],” she said. “Rachael Blackmore has taken a lot of the stigma out of being a lady rider and I don’t really see a difference in myself and the lads when I go point to pointing.
“They’re all nice to me. We have all the ladies races and they’re doing their best for us so if we can have a few more it’d be great.”
Power has enjoyed plenty of success of late as part of a blossoming partnership with Kiely, also piloting Dr Robin – owned by her mother – to a point-to-point success at Dromahane in April.
“Paul (Kiely) has been very good to me, he’s given me loads of rides and advice. He’s very patient giving me rides in races whenever he can, point to point and on the track.
“Thedancingfarrier was my first track winner for Paul and it was amazing. When they’ve the faith in you to give you a chance on a horse that has a chance in a race, it was just amazing, words can’t describe the feeling really.
“You just have to ride a winner to get that feeling but it’s out of this world. It takes a lot of patience and a lot of hard work. The first few rides over fences, it was a great feeling to get the taste for it.”
Power grew up in a household that lived and breathed racing and has gained valuable experience with the likes of Henry de Bromhead and Joseph O’Brien while retaining her amateur status.
“You can ride in point to points as an amateur, which is a big advantage, and it doesn’t have to be a full time job,” she said.
“If you wanted to have a professional job, you could on the side. Most people start out either on the flat as an apprentice or a qualified rider so it is a great stepping stone.
“I was born into racing really and before I could walk I was sat up on ponies.
“Myself and my brother were never pushed into riding or anything but I was born into it.
“I just got the bug for it really. I was weak when I started off so I was getting stronger and you learn a lot just from talking to the older lads and getting advice from everyone you can.
“I absolutely love it. It’s more of a lifestyle than a job now for me.”
Only at the beginning of what hopes to be a fruitful racing career, Power has drawn attention to the benefits that the George Mernagh Memorial Fund Qualified Rider Subsidy & Bursary offers to aspiring jockeys, providing the financial support for riders to acquire all-important QR licenses.
“I’ve seen all the courses you can do with equuip and they look great,” she added. “There are schooling courses and everything, and I’ll definitely be looking into doing some of them in the future.”
The George Mernagh Memorial Fund Qualified Rider Subsidy & Bursary offers financial support for jockeys in obtaining their licence. To find out more and to apply, click here
Waterford-based Power is already making waves as a qualified rider, having earned her first winner on the track in March when partnering Thedancingfarrier, trained by Paul Kiely, to victory at Cork.
She's currently following the career path of Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Blackmore, who similarly came through as a QR before going on to blaze a trail.
And the 22-year-old remains eternally grateful to Blackmore for making it easier for girls to integrate themselves within the sport.
“It’s great [to be a female jockey],” she said. “Rachael Blackmore has taken a lot of the stigma out of being a lady rider and I don’t really see a difference in myself and the lads when I go point to pointing.
“They’re all nice to me. We have all the ladies races and they’re doing their best for us so if we can have a few more it’d be great.”
Power has enjoyed plenty of success of late as part of a blossoming partnership with Kiely, also piloting Dr Robin – owned by her mother – to a point-to-point success at Dromahane in April.
“Paul (Kiely) has been very good to me, he’s given me loads of rides and advice. He’s very patient giving me rides in races whenever he can, point to point and on the track.
“Thedancingfarrier was my first track winner for Paul and it was amazing. When they’ve the faith in you to give you a chance on a horse that has a chance in a race, it was just amazing, words can’t describe the feeling really.
“You just have to ride a winner to get that feeling but it’s out of this world. It takes a lot of patience and a lot of hard work. The first few rides over fences, it was a great feeling to get the taste for it.”
Power grew up in a household that lived and breathed racing and has gained valuable experience with the likes of Henry de Bromhead and Joseph O’Brien while retaining her amateur status.
“You can ride in point to points as an amateur, which is a big advantage, and it doesn’t have to be a full time job,” she said.
“If you wanted to have a professional job, you could on the side. Most people start out either on the flat as an apprentice or a qualified rider so it is a great stepping stone.
“I was born into racing really and before I could walk I was sat up on ponies.
“Myself and my brother were never pushed into riding or anything but I was born into it.
“I just got the bug for it really. I was weak when I started off so I was getting stronger and you learn a lot just from talking to the older lads and getting advice from everyone you can.
“I absolutely love it. It’s more of a lifestyle than a job now for me.”
Only at the beginning of what hopes to be a fruitful racing career, Power has drawn attention to the benefits that the George Mernagh Memorial Fund Qualified Rider Subsidy & Bursary offers to aspiring jockeys, providing the financial support for riders to acquire all-important QR licenses.
“I’ve seen all the courses you can do with equuip and they look great,” she added. “There are schooling courses and everything, and I’ll definitely be looking into doing some of them in the future.”
The George Mernagh Memorial Fund Qualified Rider Subsidy & Bursary offers financial support for jockeys in obtaining their licence. To find out more and to apply, click here
“If you wanted to have a professional job, you could on the side. Most people start out either on the flat as an apprentice or a qualified rider so it is a great stepping stone.