Katie Walsh (jockey)

Katie Walsh (born 18 December 1984)[1] is a retired Irish jockey who, in 2012, came third in that year's Grand National on Seabass, giving her the highest finish to that date for a female competitor.[2] Walsh is the daughter of amateur jump jockey, trainer and television pundit, Ted Walsh and the sister of top class jump jockey, Ruby Walsh. She rode three winners at the Cheltenham Festival.

For other uses, see Kate Walsh.

On 6 April 2015, Walsh became the third woman to win the Irish Grand National riding Thunder And Roses.[3]

Early life

She was previously successful in the sport of Eventing.[4] She began her riding career in 2003. Her first winner was Hannon at Gowran Park in 2003.[1]

Career

During the 2010 Cheltenham Festival she rode her first two Cheltenham Festival winners. She won on Poker De Sivola on the first day of the Festival in the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup. She won on Thousand Stars on the last day of the Festival in the County Handicap Hurdle.[5]

Walsh made her Grand National debut in 2012. She rode Seabass, who was trained by her father Ted Walsh. She finished third, which remained the best finish achieved by a female jockey in the Grand National until Rachael Blackmore won the 2021 race.

Walsh became the third woman to ride a winner in the Irish Grand National on 6 April 2015. She won on Thunder And Roses who was trained by Sandra Hughes and owned by Gigginstown.

On 27 April 2016 Walsh had her first grade 1 win.[6] It was Blow by Blow in the Champion INH Flat Race at Punchestown.[6]

In March 2018 Walsh rode her third winner of the Cheltenham Festival. It was the Champion Bumper, which was a grade 1 race. She brought her mount Relegate from the back of the field 5 furlongs out to catch the leader just at the line.

Other work

Walsh began working as a racing ambassador for the Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse in 2015 and continued in 2016 and 2017.[7]

Personal life

Walsh married her long-time partner, the race horse trainer Ross O’Sullivan in Kildare in July 2013. Her sister-in-law is the Irish jockey Nina Carberry, who married Walsh's brother Ted Walsh Junior.

Major wins

Republic of Ireland Ireland

United Kingdom Great Britain

See also

References
  1. "Jockey Data". www.goracing.ie. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  2. "Walsh proud of Katie's National performance". The Irish Times. 15 April 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  3. "Katie Walsh wins Irish Grand National on Thunder And Roses". BBC Sport. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  4. Rumsby, Ben (5 April 2013). "Grand National 2013: Ted Walsh favours daughter Katie in Aintree's sibling rivalry". Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  5. "Katie Walsh has grand designs after Cheltenham success". The Irish Times. 12 April 2018.
  6. "Grade 1 first for Katie Walsh - Racenews". Racenews. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  7. Wright, Chris (14 September 2016). "Sam Twiston-Davies and Katie Walsh continue as Aintree ambassadors for 2016-17". liverpoolecho. Retrieved 23 March 2018.


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