Whether you’re an avid fan or couldn't care less about horse racing, it’s undeniable that the buzz around today’s Melbourne Cup is worth your attention. Jockey Michelle Payne became the first woman to win the historic competition in its 155-year history as she competed against 23 other men.
The 30-year-old Australian crossed the finish line coincidentally decked out in green, white, and purple, the iconic colors of suffragettes who campaigned for women’s rights in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. First competing in 2009, she's the fourth woman to ever take part in the Melbourne Cup following Maree Lyndon in 1987, and Clare Lindop and Lisa Cropp, who both rode in 2007.
“This is everybody’s dream who’s a jockey in Australia,” Payne told MamaMia 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.”
Her response to the "chauvinists" who doubted the ability of women to compete alongside men? "Get stuffed."
#MelbourneCup winner #MichellePayne tells her doubters to ‘get stuffed’… https://t.co/DDjSQpWEKphttps://t.co/lUug5HWnaA — ABC News (@abcnews) November 3, 2015
“It’s a very male-dominated sport and people think we’re not strong enough,” she told CNN. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s (NTRA) Jim Mulvihill thinks Payne’s victory isn’t necessarily surprising, but is certainly worthy of celebration.
One of the all time great moments in sport #michellepayne with brother and strapper #steviepayne… https://t.co/mtatCp6G44 — Shane Crawford (@SCrawf9) November 3, 2015
“Here in the U.S. women jockeys have won tens of thousands of races in the past 50 years,” Mulvihill told LittleThings. “The contributions women riders have made to the game have been immeasurable. You can’t really put a number on the influence that it’s had on fan engagement and bringing new people into the game.” Social media immediately flooded with messages congratulating Payne on her $6.2 million win. “There’s a story behind those big wins — every rider has stories of discrimination and more barriers than their male counterparts have had,” Mulvihill said. “The Melbourne Cup is one of the biggest races in the game, so when something this historic happens, it’s a huge deal.”
See some of the tweets congratulating Michelle:
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