Michelle Payne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Michelle PayneOAM |
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Michelle Payne on Yosei, winning the 2010 Thousand Guineas
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| Occupation | Trainer |
| Born | 29 September 1985 |
| Weight | 50.5 kg (7.95 st; 111 lb) |
| Career wins | 779 |
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Michelle J. Payne OAM (born 29 September 1985) is a retired Australian jockey. She made history by winning the 2015 Melbourne Cup. She rode the horse Prince of Penzance to victory. Michelle is the first and only female jockey to ever win this famous race.
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Early Life and Dreams
Michelle Payne grew up on a farm in Miners Rest, Australia. She was the youngest of ten children. Her mother passed away when Michelle was very young. Her father, Paddy, raised all ten children by himself.
From a young age, Michelle dreamed of becoming a winning jockey. When she was just seven, she told her friends she would one day win the Melbourne Cup. She went to school in Ballarat. At 15, she followed seven of her older brothers and sisters into horse racing.
Racing Career Highlights
Michelle won her very first race in Ballarat. She rode a horse named Reigning, which her father trained. In 2004, Michelle had a serious fall during a race. She suffered a bad head injury and needed a long time to recover.
After her recovery, Michelle kept working hard. In 2009, she won her first major race, called a Group One race. This was the Toorak Handicap at Caulfield Racecourse. She rode a horse named Allez Wonder. The next week, she rode in the Caulfield Cup. She was only the third female jockey to ride in that race.
In 2010, Michelle rode a horse named Yosei to win the Thousand Guineas. This was another big win for her.
Winning the Melbourne Cup in 2015
In 2015, Michelle Payne became very well known. She won two races at the Melbourne Cup carnival. One of these was the Hilton Hotels Stakes. The other was the main event, the Melbourne Cup itself! Michelle said she felt like she was "floating on a cloud."
On 3 November 2015, Michelle won the Melbourne Cup. She rode Prince of Penzance, a six-year-old male horse. She had ridden this horse many times before. Their strong connection helped them win. Michelle said, "It's not all about strength. It's about getting the horse to try for you."
Michelle Payne was the first woman to win the Melbourne Cup in its 155-year history. She was also only the fourth woman to ride in the race. Her win was a huge moment for women in sports. After her victory, Michelle spoke about how women can succeed in horse racing. She hoped her win would help other female jockeys.
Many people were surprised by her win. Prince of Penzance was bought for a small amount of money. The horse was also a long shot to win, with odds of 100 to 1. This means most people did not expect them to win.
Later Years in Racing
In May 2016, Michelle had another serious fall during a race. She suffered serious injuries to her stomach area and needed surgery. She returned to racing in September 2016. Michelle also shared her goal to become a trainer in the future.
In October 2016, she received the Don Award. This award is given to an Australian sportsperson who has inspired the nation. In May 2017, Michelle also received the Longines Ladies Award in the U.S. This award honors women who have positively influenced the world of horses.
Michelle also shares her inspiring story at events around the world.
Honours
In 2021, Michelle Payne was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. This is a special honor for her achievements.
Legacy
In 2019, Michelle Payne's amazing victory was made into a movie. The film is called Ride Like a Girl. Actress Teresa Palmer played Michelle in the movie.
