Trailblazer Pam O’Neill still leads from the front as an ambassador for National Jockey Celebration Day

MICHELLE Payne’s historic Melbourne Cup success was 36 years in the making for trailblazer Pam O’Neill, who was instrumental in paving the way for female jockeys in Australia.

Pam O'Neill, first female jockey licensed to ride against males in Australia, is an ambassador for Saturday’s National Jockey Celebration Day. Picture: Darren England

MICHELLE Payne’s historic Melbourne Cup success last November was 36 years in the making for trailblazer Pam O’Neill, who was instrumental in paving the way for the prominent role female jockeys now play in Australian racing.

“I got great pride out of seeing Michelle win that Melbourne Cup,” O’Neill said. “It was like ‘Yeh. The girls have finally done it!’ It was a fantastic result.”

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O’Neill is the Queensland Ambassador for Saturday’s National Jockey Celebration Day, which celebrates the achievements of former and current jockeys, commemorates those who have lost their lives and raises awareness and funds for the National Jockeys’ Trust (NJT).

Eagle Farm will conduct a Jockey Foot Race to raise money for the NJT, which has provided nearly $3 million assistance to riders and their families.

A total of 880 Australian jockeys have lost their lives in race falls in 170 years and more than 200 are injured from 500 race and trackwork falls each year.

“The National Jockeys Trust has done wonderful things for the industry,” O’Neill said.

Michelle Payne created history with her Mlebourne Cup win on Prince Of Penzance. Picture: Colleen Petch

Now 71, O’Neill broke down the barriers for female jockeys when she was granted permission to ride against the males in May 1979. Before that, she had been restricted to a circuit of races riding against her own sex.

“I fought for 20 years to get that rule changed,” she said. “I was 34 by the time I was finally given the chance and they didn’t give me a claim or anything.”

Females now account for about half of all new apprentices in Australian racing.

“When I started, I never had any change rooms,” O’Neill said. “The first day they got me a caravan and a few of them dubbed it ‘Pam’s Penthouse.’ But I used to get changed in the casualty room.

“It’s different now. It gave me a bit of a thrill to see so many female jockeys riding at the Townsville carnival last week. There was so many of them, they had to put up a tent outside their room because it wasn’t big enough for all of them.”

Originally published as Trailblazer Pam O’Neill still leads from the front as an ambassador for National Jockey Celebration Day