Michelle Payne, Historic Melbourne Cup-Winning Jockey, Announces Retirement

Michelle Payne, the first and only female jockey to triumph in the Melbourne Cup, has officially announced her retirement from competitive racing. Best known for her groundbreaking victory in the 2015 Melbourne Cup (G1), where she rode the 100-1 longshot Prince Of Penzance to a stunning win, Payne has decided to relinquish her racing licence to Racing Victoria just before the upcoming season begins.

“It’s time for me to step away,” she shared with Racing.com. “Making this decision was difficult and took a lot of contemplation, but achieving my greatest dream of winning the Melbourne Cup has been incredible, and I’ve had my share of glory.”

Payne, who leaves the sport with an impressive tally of 772 career wins, debuted at the age of 15 when she secured her first victory for her father, Paddy Payne Sr. After having mentioned that this would be her final year in competitive racing, she now plans to focus on training horses.

“I’m genuinely excited about the training aspect,” she said. “You still experience the same thrill from watching the races, though I find myself feeling a bit more anxious, which is fascinating since it takes some of the control away from you.”

Her extraordinary journey was even depicted in a Hollywood film in 2019, and she has made appearances in the UK as part of ITV Racing’s coverage at Royal Ascot. Beyond her iconic Melbourne Cup win, Payne's notable Group 1 successes include the Toorak Handicap in 2009 and the Schweppes Thousand Guineas the following year.