Top jockey Rachael Blackmore has been nominated for World Sport Star of the Year

Rachael Blackmore has been nominated for World Sport Star at this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards. The award is given to a non-British sports person and  Blackmore faces stiff competition up against:

• Saul Alvarez, Boxing
• Tome Brady, American Football
• Novak Djokovic, Tennis
• Elaine Thompson-Herah, Athletics
• Max Verstappen, Formula 1

The Irish rider became the first female jockey to win the Grand National on Minella Times, trained by Henry de Bromhead. She was the first female to be leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival back in March where she won six races including the Champion Hurdle on Honeysuckle. Five out of six of these victories were in Grade 1 races. Blackmore was also recognised at the Jockey Club McCoy Awards in October where she won ride of the season for her historic win on Minella Times in the Grand National. 

The last time a racing figure lifted the World Sport Star trophy was 1967 when Australian jockey George Moore won. More recently Nick Skelton, Sophie Christiansen and Hollie Doyle have featured in the awards. 

Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: “We installed Rachael Blackmore as the slight favourite for the BBC World Sport Star of the Year gong earlier today. However, it seems punters believe she is head and shoulders above her rivals and even though she has now gone odds-on, no price seems short enough.”

Voting closed today and the award will be presented during the BBC Sports Personality of the Year show live on BBC One on Sunday 19 December.