Read the complete write-up of Michelle Payne net worth, age, husband, children, height, family, parents, records, movie, tv shows as well as other information you need to know.
Introduction
Michelle Payne is an Australian jockey. She won the 2015 Melbourne Cup, riding Prince of Penzance, and is the first and only female jockey to win the event.
Early life
| Name | Michelle Payne |
| Net Worth | $4 million |
| Occupation | Jockey |
| Height | 1.52m |
| Age | 36 years |
Michelle J. Payne OAM was born on September 29, 1985 (age 36 years) in Ballarat, Australia. She is the youngest child of ten of Paddy and Mary Payne, Payne grew up on a farm at Miners Rest, a locality near Ballarat in central Victoria, Australia.
Payne’s mother Mary died in a motor vehicle crash when Payne was six months old, leaving her father Paddy to raise their ten children as a single father. Payne dreamt of being a winning jockey as a child, and, aged seven, told friends she would one day win the Melbourne Cup.
She attended Our Lady Help of Christians primary school and Loreto College, Ballarat, and entered racing aged 15, the eighth of the Payne children to do so. She has an Irish New Zealand heritage.
Career
Michelle Payne 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 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.
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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 was the third female jockey to ride in the Caulfield Cup.
She rode Cummings’ Allez Wonder with a riding weight of 50.5 kg as a first-timer in the 2009 Melbourne Cup. The horse was placed 16th in the field of 23. In 2010 Payne rode Yosei to victory in the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.
Melbourne Cup
Michelle Payne gained national attention when she rode the winning horse in two races at the Melbourne Cup carnival at the Flemington Racecourse in 2015. One of them was the Hilton Hotels Stakes and the other was the Melbourne Cup itself. Payne said she was “floating on the cloud and it’s a nice feeling”.
Payne won the Melbourne Cup on 3 November 2015, riding Prince of Penzance, a six-year-old gelding with which she had a long-term association. The training strategy used in the lead-up to the race included a focus on galloping and a consistent horse-jockey relationship. “…’ you know what?’ Payne asked. “It’s not all about strength, there is so much more involved, getting the horse to try for you, it’s being patient.”
“Just want to say to everyone else, can get stuffed, because they think women aren’t strong enough but we just beat the world” stated Michelle Payne after her win in the Melbourne Cup.
Payne was the first woman to win the Melbourne Cup in its 155-year history. She was also the fourth woman to ride in the race and was coincidentally wearing the colours of the suffragette movement: purple, green and white. In an interview shortly after her Melbourne Cup win, Payne said that horse racing is a “chauvinistic sport”. Her short speech about the capability of women in sport was described as “unambiguous and galvanizing”. She later stated that she hopes her win “helps female jockeys”.
The victory was a surprise for bookmakers and speechmakers. The horse, bought for $50,000 (a figure described by sportswriters as “pocket change” for horseflesh) was a long-odds chance at 100–1, and afterward, Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and other speechmakers were criticized for failing to adapt their pre-prepared congratulations to acknowledge the historic nature of the win.
Michelle Payne suffered severe abdominal injuries in a race fall at Mildura in May 2016. She underwent urgent surgery for a torn pancreas, with surgeons saving the organ, otherwise, she would have become a diabetic. She returned to racing in September 2016, though noted that her future goals included a move from being a jockey to becoming a trainer.
Payne was awarded the Don Award at the Sport Australia Hall of Fame awards in October 2016. The Don Award is “awarded to a sportsperson who, through their achievements and example over the last 12 months, is considered to have most inspired the nation”.
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She received international recognition when awarded the Longines Ladies Award in Washington U.S in May 2017. The award paid tribute to “distinguished women whose careers have shown a positive influence and exceptional commitment to the equine cause”
On 23 June 2017, Michelle Payne was stood down from racing after she had tested positive for the drug phentermine, an appetite suppressant banned under the Australian Rule of Racing 81B. The traces were found in Payne’s urine from a test taken on 11 June 2017, at the Swan Hill Cup meeting. Payne faced an inquiry by Racing Victoria stewards on 29 June 2017.
Payne pleaded guilty to taking the appetite suppressant phentermine and was banned for four weeks until 21 July 2017. Payne said after the investigation “The onus is 100 percent with me … I regret not seeking more guidance, I wasn’t thorough, and that is completely my fault. My sincere apologies to everyone.” She also speaks at conferences around Australia and internationally sharing her inspiring story.
Husband
Michelle Payne is currently not married. Her husband or boyfriend is unknown to the general public. However, Payne was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2021 Australia Day Honours. In 2019, Michelle Payne’s victory was made into a feature movie, Ride Like a Girl, with Teresa Palmer in the role of Payne.
Michelle Payne net worth
How much is Michelle Payne worth? Michelle Payne net worth is estimated at around $4 million. Her main source of income is from her career as a racing jockey. Payne successful career has earned her some luxurious lifestyles and some fancy cars trips. She is one of the richest and influential jockeys in Australia.