Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne is fined $1,000 for branding a horse owner a ‘PIG’

Michelle Payne has been fined $1,000 for calling a horse owner a ‘pig’ on Twitter. 

Payne, the first female jockey to the win the Melbourne Cup, blasted Brae Sokolski, who owns derby contender Thought of That on Tuesday. 

She made the controversial comment after he announced Mark Zahra was selected to ride the horse instead of Linda Meech for Saturday’s group 1 Victoria Derby.   

Payne made the controversial comment (pictured) about Sokolski on Twitter on Tuesday

News Racing’s Twitter announced Sokolski’s decision, which he admitted was going to be ‘unpopular’. 

Payne responded: ‘Not for the public to decide but the public can recognise you as a pig.’  

Racing Victoria questioned Payne about her tweet on Wednesday and she was subsequently fined. 

A statement said she had pleaded guilty to Australian Rule of Racing 228 [d]. 

‘A person must not engage in publishing or posting on any social media platform or channel any material, content or comment that is obscene, offensive, defamatory, racist, threatening, harassing, discriminatory or abusive to or about any other person involved in the racing industry,’ the rule states. 

Horse owner Brae Sokolski (pictured) will not pursue legal action for Payne’s comment 

While Sokolski doesn’t plan to pursue legal action on Payne, he has released a statement in regards to her comment. 

‘You’re entitled to an opinion. You are not entitled to challenge the right of an owner to make that decision,’ he told RSN927’s Racing Pulse on Wednesday morning.

‘You are not entitled to accuse or imply insidious motives for that decision without any evidence.

‘I’ve spent my life building a reputation in the business and racing communities for acting with integrity.’    

‘To have this reputation sullied by a reckless act is deeply upsetting,’ he said.  

Payne lashed out  after Sokolski announced that he selected Mark Zahra to ride Thought Of That (pictured in the Ladbrokes Stakes) instead of Linda Meech (pictured) for Saturday’s group 1 Victoria Derby

Payne defended herself on Twitter after users slammed her comment. 

‘Linda has feelings too and has ridden that horse to perfection last two starts. Suits the horse. 

‘Yes they pay the bills and have the right to decisions but there’s also being a human. Loyalty in his game is very disappointing,’ she responded to one. 

‘It’s so disappointing. But even more so when the horse has been ridden to perfection and looks unbeatable. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for Linda. She’s earnt [sic] it,’ she responded to another. 

Payne defended herself on Twitter after users slammed her controversial comment 

She stood by her opinion that Linda Meech should have not been replaced by Mark Zahra