Rachael Blackmore raises £250,000 for charity with Serial Winners Fund after Betfair donate for every winner she rode

TRAILBLAZING jockey Rachael Blackmore has raised £250,000 for charity through what she labelled an ‘incredible initiative’.

Betfair started the pot at £100,000 on Betfair Chase day last November and added £5,000 for every winner she rode.

ReutersBlackmore has raised £250,000 for charity through Betfair’s Serial Winners Fund[/caption]

The contribution was doubled to £10,000 at Cheltenham Festival, where Blackmore won the Supreme on Slade Steel and Champion Chase on Captain Guinness.

The running tally, which ended on Grand National day at Aintree, had swelled to £210,000.

But Betfair kindly chipped in the extra £40,000 to make it a whopping quarter of a million going to the Injured Jockeys Fund and Irish Injured Jockeys.

It looked as if Blackmore would win the Grand National when she hit the elbow in the lead on former Gold Cup hero Minella Indo.

But his 11-year-old legs just gave way to the rampaging I Am Maximus, who surged home for Willie Mullins.

It was still a brilliant effort from Blackmore and Betfair to raise so much money for the charities that do so much work for jockeys.

Blackmore, who won the 2021 National on Minella Times, said: “The Serial Winners Fund was an incredible initiative run by Betfair throughout the season in support of the Injured Jockeys Fund in Ireland and UK, it’s one that I am very proud to have been a part of.

“This really is a substantial donation, generously topped up by Betfair, and will support the vital work they carry out helping jockeys in all areas of their lives.”

While Charlotte Booth, Chief Commercial Officer for Betfair, commented: “The Serial Winners Fund has been a fantastic journey for all of us – Betfair, the IJF, Irish injured jockeys and Rachael.

“It’s been a real team effort from the start, and we’ve all been cheering Rachael on.

“Our team visited both Oaksey House in Lambourn and the RACE facility in Ireland and witnessed firsthand the work both charities do.

“It’s nothing short of amazing to see the services and support they provide to jockeys and the dedication of the teams.

“These are such important charities for the racing community, and I am sure this initiative has raised awareness of these great causes.

“Rachael has been brilliant throughout and the highlight must be her two Cheltenham winners, which added £20,000 to the pot.”