Paddy Payne Sr, patriarch of one of the most famous Australian racing families, has died aged 90.
Payne was a father of 10, including Melbourne Cup-winning hoop Michelle Payne and 19-time Group 1-successful jockey Patrick Jr, who rode Northerly to victory in the 2002 Cox Plate.
Payne Sr, originally from New Zealand, moved to Ballarat in the early 1980s after selling Paddy Boy for $300,000 to Robert Sangster.
The horse, who Payne had purchased for a mere $1300 before winning the 1980 Group 1 Ellerslie Sires’ Produce, would later go on to win more majors in the AJC Derby and Sydney Cup.
He would combine with Michelle to a third placing in the Group 1 VRC Oaks with Miner’s Miss ($101) in 2018 and trained his final winner in 2024 before saddling his final runner earlier this year.
“He passed away peacefully in his sleep, early this morning at home,” his daughter, Therese, said in a statement on the family’s behalf.
“He got to have his dying wish.
“We feel he had a great life, and we were happy he was comfortable.
“We hope he’s joined our mum and brother and sisters.”
Payne Sr’s wife, Mary, lost her life in a car accident in 1986 and he was left to raise the clan of children almost single-handedly.
Their daughters Bernadette died last year aged 51, while Brigid, 36, died from a heart attack in 2007.
Their infant son Michael died in 1985 three days after he was born.
+ Snowdome heads nominations for Saturday’s $100,000 Nicopolis Stakes (1200m) as the seven-year-old bids for his first win in more than 18 months.
Since successful in back-to-back Listed races last February, Snowdome has been winless but has finished runner-up at each of his past three starts and appears ready to break through.
The Rommel gelding was nosed out in the H G Bolton Sprint, comfortably held in the Belmont Newmarket and battled hard in the Idyllic Prince Stakes.
William Pike has been engaged to ride Rissoles, who finished hard to be beaten only a length in the 1000m Jolly Beggar Stakes two weeks ago.
Haida Gwaii, victorious in that event, re-opposes but has never raced over a distance as great as the Nicopolis Stakes.
+ Harness trainer Bill Whyte has been fined $4000 for track-working a mare that was more than 120 days pregnant at Byford Trotting Training Complex.
Officials said the work did not involve high levels of exertion and there was no evidence the mare nor foetus suffered but there was a “need for deterrence” to “maintain the high standards of animal welfare”.
+ James Cummings, the latest addition to Hong Kong’s training ranks after winning 52 Group 1 races in Australia, saddles his first runner from his new base when Day Day Victory starts at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
+ Four-time Group 1 winner Fangirl has been retired following a third placing in Saturday’s Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick.
Owner Debbie Kepitis said Fangirl is likely to covered by Darley’s popular young sire Anamoe – a nine-time Group 1 winner.
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