'It's so special' - Rachael Blackmore awarded major Irish sporting accolade

Rachael Blackmore has described 2021 as an incredible year for women in sport as the history-making rider was crowned the Irish Times Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year on Friday.

Accepting the award in person at a ceremony in Dublin, Blackmore was congratulated by minister of state for sport Jack Chambers on her unprecedented success at Cheltenham and Aintree last spring.

The 32-year-old saw off top Irish sportswomen such as Kellie Harrington, who etched her name into the history books by winning gold in the lightweight boxing final at the Tokyo Olympics, and Solheim Cup-winning golfer Leona Maguire.

Rachael Blackmore is congratulated by minister of state for sport Jack Chambers on FridayCredit: Alan Betson

Blackmore said: "It's been such an incredible year for sport and particularly for women in sport. To be nominated is fantastic but to win an award like this, it's so special, it really is.

"When you look at the people you are up against and their achievements, it's hard to comprehend that you've come out on top. It's unbelievable."

Nominated last week in the World Sport Star category for Sunday's BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, Blackmore is also one of an unprecedented six female sportspeople in the running for RTE Sportsperson of the Year this Saturday.

SBK to sponsor Clarence House Chase day at Ascot

Ascot’s Grade 1 Clarence House Chase raceday in January has a new sponsor in the shape of SBK, the sportsbook app with odds taken from the Smarkets betting exchange.

It is the latest move into racing sponsorship by SBK who also sponsor Flat jockeys Sean Levey, Nicola Currie and Richard Kingscote, jumps riders Tom Bellamy and Page Fuller and trainer George Boughey.

SBK's Adam Baylis said: "We are very excited to sponsor the illustrious Grade 1 Clarence House Chase raceday. It represents a fantastic opportunity for SBK to partner with a racecourse like Ascot."

Tom Byrne joins BHA as head of racing and betting

Tom Byrne is set to join the BHA as head of racing and betting in February.

Byrne joins the BHA from the Levy Board where he worked as operations manager for almost four years, following previous roles at GBI Racing and the Racing Post.

The head of racing and betting is a revised role, replacing the position of head of racing and racecourse previously held by Paul Johnson, who is set to take over as chief executive of the National Trainers Federation in January.

As well as overseeing the management and development of the BHA's racing department and its production and development of the fixture list and race programme, the role now also incorporates responsibility for betting industry liaison.

BHA chief operating officer Richard Wayman said: "As well as looking to continue to develop the fixture list and race programme to ensure that our horses have the opportunities to fulfill their potential, we want to ensure that racing can grow its appeal to customers and investors. Tom's good relationships with the betting industry will also be an asset, with betting liaison now forming an important part of the job."

Levy Board chief executive Alan Delmonte added: "Tom has overseen with great competence and fresh thinking all of the Levy Board's racing-related expenditure and we wish him the very best in his new role."

RMG and HBA Media team up over international media rights

Racecourse Media Group (RMG) and HBA Media have come together in a three-year representation agreement to market and distribute British and Irish racing to an international audience, described as a "one-stop shop" for broadcasters looking for premium horseracing.

The new arrangement means HBA Media will globally showcase RMG’s British and Irish portfolio, including events such as the Cazoo Derby Festival, Qatar Glorious Goodwood, Longines Irish Champions Weekend and Qipco British Champions Day.

The deal complements HBA Media’s existing commercial agreements with Ascot and overseas contests such as the Lexus Melbourne Cup and Breeders' Cup.

HBA Media chief executive Henry Birtles said: "Our new alliance with RMG as distribution partner for their premier British, Irish, Dubai and Bahrain racing further bolsters HBA Media's ability to package the very best events from around the world under one umbrella, to the benefit of all federations we are fortunate to work with and represent."

Fraser Garrity joins Arc as group racing and operations manager

Fraser Garrity has joined Arena Racing Company (Arc) as group racing and operations manager, a role that will include overseeing the training of new clerks of the course as well as offering general support to the group's current clerks.

Garrity joins Arc from Chelmsford City, where he has been racing manager since it opened in 2015, having previously been head of racecourses at the BHA.

Mark Spincer, managing director of Arc's racing division, said of Garrity: "His experience, most recently at Chelmsford City and from his time at BHA will be of real benefit for the whole team but especially the trainees we have taken on."

Arc also announced the appointment of a number of trainee clerks around the group.

David Attwood, who has previously held positions at Leopardstown and Huntingdon, will join Southwell to undertake his training, while Richard Fothergill, also formerly of Leopardstown, will join Uttoxeter as trainee in January, alongside John Holliday at Hereford from May 1.

Ben Hicks will take on a similar role at Bath, with Charlie Rees joining Arc in a central trainee clerk role. Isabelle Mangan has been appointed racing executive at Lingfield following Stephanie Wethered's move to become full-time clerk of the course at Brighton.

Kelso announces prize-money increases

Kelso's bet365 Morebattle Hurdle will now be worth £100,000 after the Borders track announced a raft of increases that will raise total prize-money spend to £1.5 million in 2022.

The handicap, which is to be staged on March 5, will have its prize-money increased by 33 per cent, with the winner chasing a £100,000 bonus if winning any race at the Cheltenham Festival, a double that was achieved by The Shunter last season.

The most valuable hurdle race in Scotland, the Morebattle Hurdle is the feature event on a seven-race programme that will carry more than £260,000 in prize-money and includes two £50,000 races on the undercard. The Grade 2 bet365 Premier Novices' Hurdle, won last season by My Drogo, and the Listed bet365 Premier Steeplechase are also to get prize-money boosts.

The finals of three new race series will culminate at the track on March 26, when total prize-money for the day will exceed £200,000 and are all part of the Racing Post Go North series of races carrying £30,000 of prize-money.

Bet365's Pat Cooney said: "We are delighted to sponsor Kelso's most valuable meeting of the year and look forward to some really competitive action.

"In our first year of sponsorship, the introduction of the £100,000 bonus for the bet365 Morebattle Hurdle really added spice, so we're delighted to help Kelso increase the total prize value again this season."

Kelso managing director Jonathan Garratt said: "Kelso racecourse is a not-for-profit company and our purpose is to promote National Hunt racing for the benefit of all the industry's stakeholders as well as our local community.

"The board consciously supports the development of an aspirational race programme for the north and we hope this commitment will offer encouragement to all racehorse owners, but especially to those that have their horses trained in our region. The programme for Morebattle Hurdle day is particularly exciting."

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