Katie Walsh, a trail-blazing female jockey in jump racing, stunned the festival crowd here by announcing her retirement immediately after riding a winner last night. Willie Mullins, trainer of Antey, then asked for Rachael Blackmore, only to be told she had gone to hospital too, to keep another injured rider company. Such are the perils of jump racing, which Walsh will now be spared. “It’s just the right time for me,” said Walsh, adding that “next on the list” is having children. I know what it’s like and he’s got a fantastic team of people around him and they’ve worked very hard for it.

Source: The Guardian April 27, 2018 17:31 UTC