Rachael Blackmore admits ‘winners don’t feel the same now’ in emotional tribute to Jack de Bromhead
Top jockey Rachael Blackmore paid tribute to Jack de Bromhead after landing a poignant winner for his dad.
The Gold Cup-winning jockey guided 100-30 joint-favourite Ingenious Stroke to victory at Downpatrick on Friday – trainer Henry de Bromhead’s first winner since the tragic death of his 13-year-old son.
Blackmore said: ‘The horse did it really well, he ran around a bit at the end.
‘It is great to get but obviously winners don’t feel the same now.
‘We are all thinking of Jack.’
The teenage son of Grand National-winning trainer Henry de Bromhead died in a racing accident in Ireland earlier this month.
Rachael Blackmore (R) paid tribute to Jack de Bromhead (L) after landing a poignant winner for his dad
Jack de Bromhead suffered fatal injuries after being thrown from his horse at the Glenbeigh Racing Festival in County Kerry on September 3.
The racing festival programme was abandoned.
Emergency services had been called to Rossbeigh beach — where the racing takes place — in Kerry after the incident, when De Bromhead’s mount stumbled and ditched the youngster onto the sands.
A spokesman for the festival committee told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘Many of the members of the Glenbeigh Race Committee are parents themselves and they are devastated at the tragic events.
‘Our heartfelt thoughts go out to the De Bromhead family and their friends.’
The Gold Cup-winning jockey at the funeral for the 13-year-old in County Kerry
Death of the teenager caused widespread shock in the Irish racing community
Emergency medical attention was provided to the young jockey. But despite desperate efforts to stabilise the teenager he was later pronounced dead.
Horse Racing Ireland’s CEO Suzanne Eade shared a message of condolence with the De Bromhead family. She said: ‘Like everybody in the horse racing and pony racing community, I want to offer my deepest condolences to his parents Henry and Heather, his sisters Mia and Georgia and extended family, on the tragic loss of their beloved Jack.
‘Jack may have been only 13 but he was already incredibly popular in the racing community. His family and friends, his pony racing colleagues and all those who lives he touched are in our thoughts today during this numbing, devastating tragedy.
‘Horse Racing Ireland’s equip department through the Industry Assistance Programme will assist in offering counselling for Jack’s pony racing colleagues and friends. May he rest in peace.’
The British Horseracing Authority tweeted their ‘deepest condolences to the family’, while Pony Racing Ireland said it was ‘impossible to put into words the sense of grief and loss’, and asked people to give the de Bromhead family ‘time to mourn’.
A tribute to Jack de Bromhead at the Longines Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown
There was also a tribute from York racecourse, as jockeys observed a minute’s silence ahead of a pony race.
A spokesman for the Glenbeigh festival committee told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘Many of the members of the Glenbeigh Race Committee are parents themselves and they are devastated at the tragic events.
‘Our heartfelt thoughts go out to the De Bromhead family and their friends.’
Emergency medical attention was provided to the young jockey. But despite desperate efforts to stabilise the teenager he was later pronounced dead.
Members of Jack de Bromhead’s family are believed to have been at the course with up to 5,000 spectators in attendance when the freak accident occurred.
The son of Henry de Bromhead (above) was fatally injured at Glenbeigh Racing Festival