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Melbourne Cup Day 2015 was a real mess. Australia’s most prestigious horse race had never been won by a female jockey until then. It was a crazy moment in history; a hurricane.

But what resonated with so many people was not what I did, but what I said next. When I say horse racing is a “chauvinistic sport.” When I say “fill in” to anyone who thinks women aren’t strong enough to be jockeys.

I didn’t really know what was coming out of my mouth when I gave that interview to Channel 7 at the Flemington assembly yard. It was off the headlines. But the words themselves came from deep within. I have always been an open person who speaks from the heart. This speech was the voice of my struggle and the struggle of all women to be recognized in our sport.

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I was only the fourth woman to take part in Australia’s biggest horse race. After I won, I had a platform. Why don’t I want to stand up and say something? It felt like the time was right.

For years, women have had doubts about deciding who is the best bike rider.

Horses in the biggest races. I tried not to let all this negativity, criticism, and sexism affect me. But of course it happened. Even if it only demoralized me for half a second, it was too much.

So this speech was not just directed at people in the racing industry, but at all the haters, the people who belittle you when you’re doing your best in a tough world.

Read the full quote Continue (Allen & Unwin) By Michelle Payne with Angus Fontaine here.