HorseThe 'stuffed' of legends

Michelle Payne riding Prince Of Penzance. Photo / Getty Images

Michelle Payne’s now-famous quote a rallying cry for women struggling to be first among equals in sport.

The Michelle Payne story resonated this week for shock value. Firstly, that a woman had not ridden a winner in 154 years of Melbourne Cup history (only four have been in the saddle).

And, secondly, that she had the guts to front television cameras and say, "it's such a chauvinistic sport" and "get stuffed" to those who had frozen female jockeys out for so long.

She was compelling. A seven-minute speech she delivered to a 1200-strong women's luncheon the following day received what was estimated to be a five-minute standing ovation.

The 30-year-old's win on Prince of Penzance struck a blow against sporting misogyny and prompted the question: what other barriers can women still dismantle?

Sport tends to be framed so men have the advantage through their propensity for power and speed, encapsulated by the Olympic creed of 'faster, higher, stronger'.

To generalise, those principles drive the sports industry because fans pay only to see the extremes of human endeavour and skill.

There are exceptions. In equestrian, the one completely gender-blind sport at the Olympics, women have won the dressage in 10 out of the last 11 Games, yet men have dominated individual showjumping and three-day eventing. However, women regularly win four-star events so this ceiling should crack soon.

Sports which have a feel, intuitive or judgment component appear the prime contenders to bridge the gender divide.

Candidates for merging -- archery, curling, diving and shooting -- continue to have separate male and female Olympic disciplines, while badminton, figure skating, sailing (through the Nacra-17 at Rio) and tennis have mixed gender options.

The final word in this work-in-progress must be reserved for Payne who, in a Newscorp column, launched an impromptu case for women's sporting suffrage.

"A couple of years ago, one owner said it should be like the 1920s; women should not even be allowed on a racecourse," Payne wrote. "It does slightly get under my skin, but I don't take it too seriously, as it's a maturity thing more than anything and we're all even competing out there once the gates open."