Legendary Ballarat horseman and patriarch of one of Australian racing’s most famous families, Paddy Payne Snr, has died aged 90.
Payne and his late wife Mary had 10 children, with eight going on to become professional jockeys and several establishing distinguished careers in racing.
Among them are Patrick Payne, who won the 2002 Cox Plate aboard Northerly before becoming a successful Group 1 trainer, and Michelle Payne, who made history aboard Prince of Penzance in 2015 as the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup.
Born and raised in Hawera in New Zealand, Payne combined dairy farming with training before purchasing Our Paddy Boy for just $1300 in the late 1970s.
Payne broke the horse in on the family dairy farm before Our Paddy Boy won the 1980 Group 1 Ellerslie Sires’ Produce Stakes.
The horse was later sold to prominent owner Robert Sangster for $300,000, providing the financial catalyst for the Payne family’s move to Australia in the early 1980s.
They established their home and stables at Miners Rest, near Ballarat, where Payne continued training a small team largely made up of inexpensive and tried horses.
Tragically, Mary was killed in a car accident in 1986, leaving Payne to raise their children.
His encouraged his daughters to pursue careers as jockeys, at a time when women were still fighting for acceptance in the profession.
Remarkably, Payne continued training into his 90th year and saddled his final runner, Nip, at Kilmore on March 6 this year, just 10 days before his 90th birthday.
His final winner came at the age of 88 when Rosalia scored on Payne’s home track at Ballarat in August 2024.
Racing Victoria, the Australian Trainers Association, Victorian Jockeys Association and Ballarat Turf Club paid tribute to Payne on Tuesday.
Racing Victoria CEO Aaron Morrison described Payne as the “doyen of a family that has greatly enriched Australian racing”.
“Paddy will be remembered as a great horseman and a loving father,” Morrison said.
“His positive influence on female jockey participation cannot be undersold, having encouraged his daughters to ride at a time when female jockeys were fighting for acceptance.
“He took great pride in the achievements of his children, along with their partners, and can rest peacefully in the knowledge that he has left the world a better place for his existence.”
Victorian Jockeys Association chief executive Matt Hyland also highlighted Payne’s extraordinary legacy, including eight of his children becoming professional jockeys.
“Eight of Paddy’s children have ridden as professional jockeys for which he leaves behind an incredible legacy including his support of his daughter’s careers and that of other female jockeys.
“Victoria’s riding ranks are richer for the contributions of the Payne family and for that we must say thank you to Paddy.”
Australian Trainers Association chief executive Stephen Bell said Payne’s role in developing a family that had contributed so much to racing was “legendary”.
