Michelle Payne has become the first woman to win the famous Melbourne Cup in its 155 year history.
She was the only female jockey in the line up of 24 horses today and she rode the Darren Weir-trained horse to victory. After the race she said her sister had a strong feeling she was going to win today.
“This is everybody’s dream who’s a jockey in Australia,” Payne said after the race. “There’s an interview of me when I was at school when I was seven and I said I was going to win the Melbourne Cup.”
Payne’s win is a historic moment, in an historic event’s rich history.
In 1987, a Kiwi jockey Maree Lyndon was the first woman to ride in the race that stopped the nation and she came second last on Argonaut Style. The first Australian female jockey to get a shot was South Australian Clare Lindop who rode Debben in 2003, unplaced.
Watch the final moments of the race here:
The 27-year-old said she was incredibly grateful to Weir for his ongoing support in what she described as an extremely “chauvinistic sport”.
Top Comments
I think feminism is simply about having choice. If the culture is supporting a gender exclusion outcome, then that's not choice. Like many women before her, before social media, the ones you never heard of who had to fight hard in a 'mans' world to do something they wanted or needed to do...this is about being brave. Good on her. If I was her mum i'd be so proud. Remember it was a bloke who gave her a start. It wasn't that long ago you'd have to give up your job if you were female and married. Things have come a LONG way. My mum didn't even have superannuation her whole working life. Dad took off with all his, we were left destitute. These days women can claim half their man's superannuation if they spent their life as a homemaker raising children and not working. Feminists have fought hard for equality, but lets give this girl the focus SHE deserves, and not give her hard work and dedication and bravery over to other causes, even if they exist and they are worthy - lets just shine the light on this girl and her achievements. Some cultures take longer to evolve than others....
Im just so happy that a female has made waves at the Melbourne cup for her skill and grit rather than an ugly dress and stupid hat.