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Michelle Payne honoured with statue at Flemington

First female jockey to win Melbourne Cup, Michelle Payne, honoured with statue at Flemington

Australian horse racing trailblazer Michelle Payne, who was the first woman to win the Melbourne Cup back in 2015, has been honoured with a statue unveiled at Flemington Racecourse today.

The statue by sculptor Judith Leman is only the fifth at Flemington, putting Payne among racing icons such as Bart Cummings and Roy Higgins, and equine legends Phar Lap and Makybe Diva.

Michelle Payne honoured with statue at Flemington

2025 Spring Carnival Looks

Michelle's looks throughout the 2025 Melbourne Spring Carnival continued to keep her on the best dressed list throughout this year's carnival.

Dressed by JASONGRECH

This year’s gown was conceived as a living tribute to Michelle Payne’s historic Melbourne Cup victory — a moment that reshaped Australian racing and continues to inspire strength, courage, and grace.

Etched in History

"Welcome to the club," Michelle Payne said to Jamie Melham as the two most famous female jockeys in Australia embraced on the Channel Nine set at Flemington after the Melbourne Cup.

Straight Talk: Mark Bouris with Michelle Payne

Michelle Payne is an Australian horse racing icon and the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup in 2015, riding Prince of Penzance to victory and breaking barriers in a male-dominated sport.

Ten years on from that magical win, Mark Bouris talks to Michelle on the Straight Talk podcast.

Ride On - Hope, healing and getting back on the horse

A decade after her dramatic launch into fame, celebrated jockey Michelle Payne reflects on what she's learned about love, loss, courage and kindness in her new book Ride On, now available through Allen & Unwin.

Michelle Payne's ride into racing history

In 2015, Michelle Payne made history when she became the first woman to ride a Melbourne Cup winner. Aboard the 100-1 outsider Prince Of Penzance, she delivered one of the most iconic moments in Australian sporting history. A decade on, the VRC reflect on the win that changed racing.