2021 was Rachael Blackmore's year as she etched herself into the history books.
She may not be comfortable with people referring to her gender in relation to her achievements but what the 32-year-old has accomplished as a female jockey is truly groundbreaking.
There have been some brilliant performances from women in the saddle down through the years but Blackmore has taken things to another stratosphere.
Not only has she competed on a level playing field in a male-dominated sport but she has simply proved better than the boys.
A masterclass at Cheltenham in March saw her partner six winners to claim the leading jockey award and tactically she was a class apart.
Her partnership with star mare Honeysuckle has become one of the great relationships in racing and their victory in the Champion Hurdle was a real highlight.
In a display of pure dominance, the Henry de Bromhead-trained mare dismissed her rivals with utmost contempt to maintain her unbeaten record in the championship event.
The pair are so perfectly matched as they both represent the pinnacle of their sport at the moment.
Other star performances at National Hunt racing's showcase week included a stunning win by Bob Olinger in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle and an astute front-running ride on Sir Gerhard in the Champion Bumper.
Cheltenham is obviously a massive week for jump racing fans but one race in the year transcends the sport like no other.
The world is focused on Aintree in April and in 173 renewals of the Grand National only 19 females jockeys have ridden in the race.
Charlotte Brew paved the way when lining up on Barony Fort in 1977 and five years later Geraldine Rees became the first women to complete the course on Cheers.
Katie Walsh came close in 2012 when finishing third on Seabass but it was fitting that Blackmore was the one to make the historic breakthrough.
The earlier competitors embodied a Corinthian spirit but Walsh and Nina Carberry brought more of a professional attitude, albeit still being amateurs, to their challenges.
Blackmore has really built upon the achievements of the best 'lady riders' in Ireland and broke the mould as a professional.
Having taken it to a new level there was no better person to finally grab the biggest prize of them all on the Liverpool turf.
Again she teamed up with principal supporter de Bromhead who capped off a remarkable season.
Minella Times went to post an 11/1 shot in the marathon contest and it all proved rather simple in the end.
The Oscar gelding got a dream run around in a race so often chock full of drama and sprinted clear at the 'elbow' to record a six-and-a-half length win over 100/1 stablemate Balko Des Flos.
Unfortunately there were no crowds on course to savour the magical moment but millions watched from afar as one of the greatest sporting moments in recent history unfolded.
As ever Blackmore tried to focus on the horse's achievements rather than her own and when asked about being the first female to win the world's most famous race she declared: “I don't feel male or female right now. I don't even feel human.”
It has been said by some that gender shouldn't even be a factor at all in this day and age but that dismisses what this achievement will mean to the generations that follow.
It's a common sight at racecourses both here in Ireland and England to see Blackmore mobbed by young girls as she walks from the weigh room to the parade ring.
And every time she takes a moment to pose for photos and autographs.
It's a touch ironic that riding schools and pony clubs have always had a much higher percentage of girls attending.
Rachael Blackmore has shown these young horse lovers that racing is a viable career avenue for their future and in an industry facing a staffing crisis that could be a massive game changer.
It may not sit too well with her at times but she has become a poster girl for the “if she can't see it, she can't be it” movement.
Of course Blackmore can't achieve the success she's had without the horses underneath her and the link-up with Henry de Bromhead has proven a massive boost for her career.
From humble beginnings she has fought tooth and nail to grab the opportunities she is currently getting and is the first to acknowledge the privileged position she has earned.
De Bromhead himself had a remarkable year in the 2021 becoming the first trainer in history to saddle the winners of the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup in one season.
To add the Grand National on top of that was double cream and he saddled the first two home at Aintree to boot.
In a country where Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott have been dominant forces in recent years, the Waterford handler has really forced his way on to the top table.
He has a serious amount of firepower in his Knockeen yard headed by last year's Gold Cup winner Minella Indo.
In a rare reversal Blackmore found herself on the wrong one when Jack Kennedy's mount won the blue riband event at Prestbury Park, beating stablemate A Plus Tard.
She has regained the mount since and with the likes of him, Honeysuckle, Bob Olinger, Minella Times, Envoi Allen and Quilixios to look forward to 2022 can only bring more success.
Horseracing is forever trying to fight for attention and relevancy in an ever changing world and it needs its stars to shine bright.
Shrinking column inches and mainstream TV coverage has befallen many once prominent sports in recent decades and racing needs to stay in the public consciousness to survive.
Frankie Dettori has probably been racing's only true star in recent years, someone that is instantly recognisable to the man on the street.
Blackmore is a totally different character altogether but her achievements have thrust her on to a platform bigger than racing.
Awards rained down on her towards the end of the year and she was recognised on an international stage when presented with the RTE Sportsperson of the Year and BBC World Sports Star of the Year gongs
The sport needs that exposure badly particularly in a year that ended with more unfortunate headlines.
The Rachael Blackmore story is one that racing can be proud of and hopefully she can continue to write many more headlines in the coming years.
