Michelle Payne
Encyclopedia
Michelle Payne is an Australian jockey
.
in central Victoria
. Mary died in a motor vehicle accident when Michelle was six months old, leaving Paddy to raise the children as a single father. Payne entered racing aged 15, the eighth of the Payne children to do so.
In March 2004, Payne fell heavily at a race in Sandown Racecourse
in Melbourne, fracturing her skull and bruising her brain. As a result of her prolonged recovery period—including a further fall where she fractured her wrist—Payne was granted a three month extension to her apprenticeship, to allow her time to ride out her claim.
Payne won her first Group One
race, the Toorak Handicap
at Caulfield Racecourse
aboard Allez Wonder on 10 October 2009 and trainer Bart Cummings
offered her the ride at the Caulfield Cup
the following week. Payne will be only the third female jockey to ride in the Caulfield Cup, one of Australia's most prestigious races.
As a first-timer in the 2009 Melbourne Cup
, she rode Cummings' Allez Wonder with a riding weight of 50.5kg. At No.22, the horse drew No.13 at the barrier, and placed 16th in the field of 23.
In 2010 Payne rode Yosei to victory in the Thousand Guineas
at Caulfield
.
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
.
Early life
The youngest daughter of the eleven children of Paddy and Mary, Payne grew up on a farm at Miners Rest, a locality near BallaratBallarat, Victoria
Ballarat is a city in the state of Victoria, Australia, approximately west-north-west of the state capital Melbourne situated on the lower plains of the Great Dividing Range and the Yarrowee River catchment. It is the largest inland centre and third most populous city in the state and the fifth...
in central Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. Mary died in a motor vehicle accident when Michelle was six months old, leaving Paddy to raise the children as a single father. Payne entered racing aged 15, the eighth of the Payne children to do so.
Career
She won in her first race at Ballarat, aboard Reigning—a horse trained by her father.In March 2004, Payne fell heavily at a race in Sandown Racecourse
Sandown Racecourse
Sandown Racecourse is one of the four horse racing venues located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Built for the Victoria Amateur Turf Club, it is the only metropolitan racecourse built in the 20th century and was opened before a crowd of 52,000, in June 1965.Sandown Racecourse is situated 25...
in Melbourne, fracturing her skull and bruising her brain. As a result of her prolonged recovery period—including a further fall where she fractured her wrist—Payne was granted a three month extension to her apprenticeship, to allow her time to ride out her claim.
Payne won her first Group One
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
race, the Toorak Handicap
Toorak Handicap
The Toorak Handicap is a 1600 metre Australian open handicap race for Thoroughbred horses aged three-years-old and upwards run at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne. The race takes place in early October as part of the Spring Racing Carnival in conjunction with the Caulfield Cup...
at Caulfield Racecourse
Caulfield Racecourse
Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs...
aboard Allez Wonder on 10 October 2009 and trainer Bart Cummings
Bart Cummings
James Bartholomew 'Bart' Cummings, AM is one of the most successful Australian racehorse trainers. He is known as the Cups King, referring to the Melbourne Cup, as the he has won the 'race that stops a nation' a record 12 times....
offered her the ride at the Caulfield Cup
Caulfield Cup
The Caulfield Cup, one of Australia's richest Thoroughbred horse races and the richest of its type in the world is held annually by the Melbourne Racing Club. The race is a handicap like the Melbourne Cup, which means that horses that compete in the Caulfield Cup are capable of running on the...
the following week. Payne will be only the third female jockey to ride in the Caulfield Cup, one of Australia's most prestigious races.
As a first-timer in the 2009 Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
, she rode Cummings' Allez Wonder with a riding weight of 50.5kg. At No.22, the horse drew No.13 at the barrier, and placed 16th in the field of 23.
In 2010 Payne rode Yosei to victory in the Thousand Guineas
The Thousand Guineas
The Thousand Guineas is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for three year old fillies at set weights run over a distance of 1600 metres at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne on a Wednesday in October.-Distance:...
at Caulfield
Caulfield Racecourse
Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs...
.