Harms John - Life As I Know It

Michelle Payne entered racing aged 15, winning her first race in Ballarat on Reigning, a horse trained and owned by her father. She won her first Group 1 race, the 2009 Toorak Handicap, aboard Allez Wonder, trained by Bart Cummings, and rode Yosei to three Group 1 victories over the next two years.

Michelle became the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup in 2015 on the local one-hundred-to-one horse, Prince of Penzance, trained by Darren Weir and strapped by her brother Stevie.

In 2016 Michelle was named The Australian newspapers Australian of the Year and she won the prestigious Sport Australia Hall of Fame Don Award. Film rights to her life story have been sold.

In the same year she was granted a dual licence, as a jockey/ trainer, and had her first win as jockey/trainer on Duke of Nottingham. Her stables, Nottingham Farm, are located outside of Ballarat.

John Harms is a Melbourne-based writer, historian, and broadcaster. His books include Confessions of a Thirteenth Man, Memoirs of a Mug Punter and Loose Men Everywhere, which now form the omnibus Play On. He also wrote The Pearl: Steve Renoufs Story and has edited nine editions of The Footy Almanac annual and the Doggies Almanac. He appears on ABC TVs Offsiders and is the contributing editor of the popular sports writing site www.footyalmanac.com.au

Dont get beat, Ive got my money on you.

Stevie Payne

I was overseas on 3 November 2015, so it was late at night when my phone literally erupted. I received over sixty text messages in under five minutesfriends and colleagues from across Australia and around the world all saying one thingMichelle Payne just won the Melbourne Cup. Australia was on its feet.

Michelles win has changed not only her chosen sport, but the attitudes towards womens participation in all male-dominated sports. It was a watershed moment for sportnot just Australian sport.

Her story doesnt begin and end in under four minutes. Michelle celebrated her thirtieth birthday just before her historic win. Every single one of those years has gone into shaping Michelle as a champion in every respect.

Katie Page, CEO, Harvey Norman

MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY PRESS
An imprint of Melbourne University Publishing Limited
Level 1, 715 Swanston Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia
www.mup.com.au

First published 2016
Reprinted twice 2016
This edition published 2017
Text Michelle Payne, 2016, 2017
Design and typography Melbourne University Publishing Limited, 2016, 2017

This book is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 and subsequent amendments, no part may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means or process whatsoever without the prior written permission of the publishers.

Every attempt has been made to locate the copyright holders for material quoted in this book. Any person or organisation that may have been overlooked or misattributed may contact the publisher.

Text design and typesetting by Cannon Typesetting
This edition typeset by Megan Ellis
Cover design by Philip Campbell Design
Printed in Australia by McPhersons Printing Group

National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry

Payne, Michelle, 1985author.
Life as I know it/Michelle Payne with John Harms.

9780522870169 (paperback)
9780522871609 (ebook)

Payne, Michelle, 1985
Women jockeysAustraliaBiography.
Horse racingAustralia.
Resilience (Personality trait).
Self-realization in women.
Other Creators/Contributors:
Harms, John, 1962 author.

798.40092

For Mary Payne

She was mother to eleven children but never lived to see them grow up. Sometimes, to help deal with the sense of loss, I tell myself it is a blessing she didnt face the craziness of bringing up ten children. I miss her every day but I feel she is with me always.

And to Paddy Payne

For being the man he is: light-hearted, jovial, positivebut tough on us, all at the same time. He taught us to be polite and respectful and how to work hard.

To my family, friends and the racing community

For everyone who has supported and believed in me, even those Ive disagreed with. Every situation helps me to grow and makes me a better, stronger person.

Thank you.

M ELBOURNE CUP, 2015. I am cantering Prince of Penzance up the Flemington straight towards the barriers. Past the clocktower. I have just left the mounting yard and walked Prince down along the roses. Darren Weir had wished me luck as he legged me up. And Maddie Raymond and my brother Stevie, the strappers, also sent us on our way. Stevie is already a hero. At the barrier draw on Saturday evening he picked number one. You champion.

I am as calm as Prince. We have become great mates since his debut in front of a handful of racegoers among the gum trees at Stawell in country Victoria in March 2013. He has grown up so much. He looks magnificentfit, athletic. I cant believe how relaxed he is but so energetic at the same time. Gee, Darrens a good trainer. This horse is spot on.

He rolls along easily; his action is loose. Hes as prepared as he can possibly be, and ready to give his best, and I have every faith he will. I love this horse. I believe in this horse.

Its a cracking field: horses prepared by some of the worlds best trainers, ridden by some of the worlds finest jockeys. And theyre trying, just as hard as we are, but I really believe well be right there in the finish.

Its a beautiful day. Big blue sky. A few wispy clouds. The slightest breeze. Perfect racing conditions.

The crowd on the lawn cheer and applaud in the sunshine. They are at the Melbourne Cup! Not a care in mind. Drinking. Eating. Cheering. Hoping.

People yell at us.

Go, Michelle!

Go, Prince.

Not many have backed the Prince. He is an outsider. One hundred to one. Attention is elsewhere. The money is on the international horses.

The Japanese horse Fame Game, the favourite, is up ahead. I can see Ed Dunlops Trip to Paris. I look at the much-loved Red Cadeaux, and Frankie Dettori on Max Dynamite. Brett Prebble, my sister Marees husband, is on Bondi Beach. And to my right is Kerrin McEvoy, my sister Cathys husband, on Excess Knowledge.

I have a lot of sisters and brothers dotted about the place. Wherever they are, they are watching this race. Australias race. And I am in it; we are in it.

Stevie was so earnest in the mounting yard, and so funny.

Dont get beat, he said, as I headed off. Ive got my money on you.

Stevie, strapping a Cup horse that his sister is riding. The two of us, who shared a bed all those years ago before we went to school. Stevie, who Dad always called The Little Boy. And me, His Little Girl.

Dad is at Home in Ballarat, watching on our TV, perched on top of some old encyclopaedias on the cabinet. Hes by himself, with a cup of tea, I bet. Wishing me a safe ride and the best ride I can deliver. My mother, his great love, is with him in spirit.

My old school friends, the Loreto girls, are scattered, some in marquees here at the track, some at Cup Day functions elsewhere, some at home. Jockey friends sit in their rooms at racetracks watching on. They would love to be taking one down to the barriers. Their time will come. I am the one feeling blessed today.

I canter past Craig Newitt on Sertorius, the only horse at longer odds than us. Stevie and I sat with his owner at the barrier draw. Such a lovely man and just as excited as us to be in the Cup, even if neither of us is fancied. Weve earned our places.