Here is all you need to know about ITV Racing’s new pundit Michelle Payne for Royal Ascot and her net worth
Michelle Payne, who has created racing history, served as the subject of a feature film, and even has an odd nickname, will grace the Royal Ascot broadcast.
Who is jockey Michelle Payne ITV Racing new pundit for Royal Ascot 2023, net worth, husband, siblings, family, bio, age, height
Born: 29 September 1985 (age 37 years), Miners Rest, Australia
Height: 1.52 m
Nationality: Australian
Siblings: Stephen Payne, Brigid Payne, Cathy Payne
Parents: Paddy Payne, Mary Payne
Education: Loreto College, Ballarat, Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School
As of now, Michelle Payne is not married but she had a charming boyfriend named Gerard Pardon, who is also a jockey. She has a net worth of $1-5 million.
This week, Michelle Payne will be a part of ITV Racing’s coverage of Royal Ascot, where she is likely to win thousands of new fans. The 37-year-old jockey has made headlines both on and off the horse during her illustrious professional career and has even been given the Order of Australia.
Payne made history in the Melbourne Cup before entering the punditry business after tragically losing her mother and suffering brain injuries from an early fall. In preparation for her participation in the British coverage of one of the biggest racing weeks on the calendar, Daily Star Sport has taken a look at her inspirational story.
Michelle was one of ten children raised by her father Paddy on a farm near Victoria, Australia, after her mother Mary lost her life in a car accident while her youngest child was just a baby.
In spite of the fact that a woman had never won the Melbourne Cup, Payne had a childhood dream of being a champion jockey and even promised friends that she would do so. Payne was a teenage rider when she experienced a horrific fall that shattered her wrist and caused brain damage. She recovered, though, and in 2009 at Caulfield Racecourse, she won her first significant race.
Six years later, at the 2015 Melbourne Cup, she would win two races, including the named feature on Prince of Penzance, and achieve worldwide fame. Despite being a 100/1 outsider, she became the first female jockey in the race’s 155-year history to win. At that time, she said, as per Daily Star outlet:
Just want to say to everyone else, can get stuffed, because they think women aren’t strong enough but we just beat the world.”
With Michelle stating that she received the moniker because she was “Really cute and good at school,” her elder brother Patrick quickly made her nickname of “Stink” public. It’s astonishing, especially after witnessing Michelle play sports at school, her brother jokingly said later in the year.
After suffering serious abdominal injuries in another race fall and needing immediate surgery for a torn pancreas, Payne underwent surgery a year later. Payne was given a race suspension in 2017, however in 2016 he also received the Don Award from the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
When Payne tested positive for drug phentermine in June of the same year, she pleaded guilty and was given a four-week penalty.
A major turning point occurred in 2019 with the release of the feature film Ride Like a Girl, which starred renowned actor Sam Neill as Payne’s father. Payne will share her knowledge at Royal Ascot with the ITV Racing staff, including Ed Chamberlin, as she turns her attention to coaching and punditry.
So fun working with you all, what a day!Looking forward to the week ahead with @itvracing Royal Ascot 🐎💫 https://t.co/19i3VeCHvn
— Michelle Payne (@mj_payne) June 20, 2023