Groundbreaking jockey Michelle Payne drops bombshell about her career after three shocking incidents

Groundbreaking Melbourne Cup winning-jockey Michelle Payne has opened up about the series of recent head knocks that have prompted her to retire from race riding.

The 38-year-old stopped the nation when she rode Prince of Penzance to victory in the 2015 Melbourne Cup and become the first female jockey to lift the trophy in the history of the race.

Payne endured some major concussions in her career on the track, including a horror fall at Sandown that left her with bruising to the brain and a fractured skull in 2004 when she was just 18.

Payne has told Racing Victoria that she won't be reapplying for her jockey's license beyond the current season, which finishes up on July 31.

She told The Age that she knew it was time to quit after copping three black eyes during training at the end of 2023.

'I had three horses, one took fright and gave me a really decent whack in the head, another one did the same thing and it gave me a blood nose, and then another one of my young horses bucked me off, but with quite a nasty knock to the head again. So I got three black eyes all in a row,' Payne said.

'It was late last year, and it knocked me around a bit and probably shocked me into retirement a bit quicker than I was thinking. But it was on the cards anyway.'

Although she's bowing out soon, Payne says she's medically fit to be able to ride a few more times.

'I did a concussion test at Sandown on Saturday, because they were doing testing for jockeys for the new season, just to see if I could ride for the last couple of months of my licence, and I passed, so that was all good,' she said.

'It is a new era in my life and I guess a bit emotional, but things come to an end and I have been lucky to survive some pretty horrible injuries.'

Payne has been working with her trainer brother Patrick, freeing her up to do charity events and speaking engagements.

'It probably got to the point earlier this year when I didn't know how I could keep managing it,' Payne said.

'With consistent management of staff, track riders, education of babies and grass gallops – I was very lucky to be able to lean on my brother for some support, he's been amazing.

'What I have been able to do for him [in return] is head to Tasmania for the carnival with his horses, head to Adelaide for the carnival with his team, and fill in at the races where he needs a hand.'

Payne told press in 2023 that she is looking forward to having a bit more free time to socialise once she retires. 

'If you want to compete well, you’ve got to really dedicate yourself to what you’re doing,” she said.

'So you just have to miss out. If you do it half-hearted, you’re not going to get the result. I sacrificed that for so many years.'

'I’m looking forward to being more social and having more fun and adventure.'