Paddy Payne, racing patriarch and father of Michelle Payne, dies at 90

Paddy Payne, a prominent figure in Australian horse racing and patriarch of a renowned racing family, has died at the age of 90. He passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Miners Rest, near Ballarat.

Payne, who was born in New Zealand before moving to Australia, was a trainer and dairy farmer. He raised 10 children as a single parent following the death of his wife, Mary, in a 1986 car accident. His family legacy in the sport is significant, with eight of his children becoming jockeys, including his eldest son Patrick, a 2002 Cox Plate winner, and his daughter Michelle, the 2015 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey.

His life and his daughter’s historic victory were depicted in the film ‘Ride Like A Girl’. Payne’s final runner competed in March 2026, just months before his death. Racing Victoria Chief Executive Aaron Morrison described him as the ‘doyen of a family that has greatly enriched Australian racing’.