Details
Date: Thursday October 15, 2026
Time: 7:00am for 7:25am start. Function concludes at 10:00am
Location: Members’ Dining Room, Level 2, Members’ Reserve
Access: Open to Full, Restricted and Provisional members with no limit on guests
Our functions are inclusive - we welcome people of all gender identities
About
Join the Women of the MCC and our presenting partner Racing Victoria, for an inspiring morning with Australian racing legend Michelle Payne OAM, at the upcoming Women of the MCC Business Breakfast.
As the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup aboard 100-1 outsider Prince of Penzance, Michelle broke over a century of traditions. Raised in Ballarat together with her 9 siblings, her story is one of grit, overcoming life-threatening injuries and shattering industry barriers.
Alongside Michelle's perspective, MC Jason Richardson will guide the morning as we mark 20 years of Women of the MCC. Enjoy a delicious breakfast spread, enriching conversations, door prizes and networking as we bring our community together to celebrate two decades of connection and empowerment.
Pricing
Standard Package
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Member Adult 18+
$85
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Member Under 18
$85
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Guest Adult 18+
$95
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Guest Under 18
$95
Booking Process
Bookings open: 9:00am AEST Thursday September 3
Bookings close: 5:00pm AEDT Thursday October 8, unless sold out sooner
Cancellation cut-off: 5:00pm AEDT Thursday October 8
If you are unable to book online, please call our Membership Services Team on (03) 9657 8888 or email specialinterestgroups@mcc.org.au
More Info
Michelle Payne OAM
Michelle Payne OAM is a pioneering Australian jockey and horse trainer best known for making history as the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup. Born in 1985 in Ballarat, Victoria, Payne grew up in a large, passionate racing family as the youngest of ten children. Despite facing severe injuries early in her career, she persevered in the sport, riding her first professional winner at just 15 years old and establishing herself as one of Australia's premier female riders.
Payne's defining moment came in 2015 when she rode 100-to-1 outsider Prince of Penzance to victory in the $6 million Melbourne Cup, defeating world-class international competitors. Her historic win and her famous post-race interview advocating for female representation in horse racing captivated the nation, inspiring her 2016 autobiography Life As I Know It, her follow-up memoir Ride On, and the 2019 film Ride Like a Girl. Beyond her accomplishments on the track, Payne has expanded her impact as a published author, motivational speaker, media commentator, and advocate for gender equality and disability awareness alongside her brother, Stevie.
Awarded the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2021, Payne continues to contribute to Australian racing as a dual jockey-trainer.
MC Jason Richardson
Jason "Richo" Richardson is a prominent Australian sports broadcaster and former elite track-and-field sprinter. Richardson won the prestigious Stawell Gift in 1993 and set a historic precedent as the only athlete in over a century of the event to win the 100m, the main Stawell Gift, and the 120m Backmarkers events in consecutive years.
In 2000, Richardson launched his broadcasting career during the Sydney Olympic Games and later became a founding radio host for Melbourne's SEN 1116 in 2003. Over the past two decades, he has worked extensively with the Seven Network, Racing.com, and TVN. Deeply rooted in a family passion for thoroughbred racing, Richardson is best known for anchoring major horse racing telecasts, including the Spring Racing Carnival, as well as covering the Olympic Games and cricket's Big Bash League.
