Ruby Walsh’s 4 daughters might observe Rachael Blackmore to Cheltenham glory
Ruby Walsh left the racing world quaking ahead of Ladies’ Day – after revealing he has four daughters who could follow Rachael Blackmore to Cheltenham glory.
The super jockey – who won a record 59 winners at the festival – said his kids Isabelle, 16, Elsa, 14, Gemma, 11, and Erica, eight, could form a new racing dynasty.
While the three youngest are still riding ponies Isabelle has ‘expressed an interest’ in being a jockey.
“I most certainly would not stop them,” he told the Daily Star. “I had an incredible career as a jockey and if any one of the four of them chooses to do that I would give them as much help as I possibly can.
“Will I encourage any one of them or try and drive anyone down that road? No. That will have to be a decision they make themselves.
“They will have to want it because the work involved – you have to love it. You won’t get to the top with someone pushing you. You have to want to get there yourself.
“They’re good riders. And their mother has ensured that they have good ponies and good horses.
“They love it.
“It’s a great childhood to have horses – a privileged one I suppose.
“But It’s a great childhood because they have to be responsible for their own ponies and their own horses and the discipline that’s required in looking after them.
“They have to be mucked out and exercised and the tack has to be cleaned – you know where they are. It’s a brilliant childhood…from a parents’ point of view anyway.”
But Ruby, 46, warned following in trailblazer Rachael’s footsteps would not be easy.
He said the now-retired jockey – the first woman to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the racing festival’s riders’ championship and the Grand National – was ‘unique’ in that she was fearless about falling.
“My sister rode. Katie was third in the Grand National. And my sister-in-law Nina rode plenty of winners at the Cheltenham Festival,” Ruby said.
“But being a jockey is not for everybody. And falling probably stopped Katie and Nina turning professional.
“Now Rachael was unique in that she fell and bounced and rolled and stood up. She was unique.”
Ruby, now one of Britain’s top pundits, said since retiring he had become a ‘chauffeur’ – for his daughters.
“The girls have ponies and they play hockey and football and athletics and piano,” he said.
“Ruby Walsh is a daddy too and he does all of those things like everybody else does.”
