Michelle Payne and Patrick Payne end training partnership as April 1, 2026 split announced
michelle payne and her brother Patrick have announced they will dissolve their training partnership, a decision made days after a fatal road accident that killed their truck driver, Peter Butler, and three of their horses.
What happens now for Michelle Payne and Patrick Payne?
The Payne Racing statement set the dissolution date as April 1, 2026. The siblings said this was a thoughtful decision made with the future in mind and outlined how responsibilities will be divided.
Patrick will continue as a full training operation and remain in control of the horses at his current Plumpton training property. michelle payne will be stepping back from the larger training operation to focus on a smaller team at home, working closer to her father and retaining a few horses in Ballarat.
The pair began their partnership in late 2024. During their time together they trained 315 runners for 41 winners. Michelle’s career highlights included winning the Melbourne Cup in 2015, recording her first training win in 2018, and retiring from riding in 2024—the same year she first teamed up with Patrick after previously riding his horses to 94 wins.
How did the stable describe the crash and the transition?
The siblings announced the split after Payne Racing mourned the death of long‑time truck driver Peter Butler following a road crash near Meredith, 46km northwest of Geelong. The stable said the horse transport truck rolled onto its roof and went over an embankment; emergency services attempted to treat Butler at the scene but he could not be saved. The accident also killed three of their horses, while six injured horses survived and were cared for by veterinarians and Golden Plains Equine.
The Payne Racing statement offered sincere condolences to Butler’s family and friends and paid tribute to his presence at the stable: “Peter brought character and laughter to our jumpout mornings, and he will be sorely missed as a regular at our stable. ” The statement also acknowledged the work of South West Horse Transport colleagues Troy, Bruce and Brooke, and thanked Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, the Country Fire Authority and SES volunteers and the local community who assisted at the scene.
- Dissolution effective date: April 1, 2026.
- Operational split: Patrick to continue full training operation at Plumpton; Michelle to focus on a smaller Ballarat‑based team and family.
- Partnership record: 315 runners for 41 winners since late 2024.
- Tragic incident: driver Peter Butler deceased; three horses killed; six horses injured and treated.
The Payne Racing statement said the priority is to make the transition as smooth and straightforward as possible for both owners and horses and invited contact for any questions. The siblings will now separate their training operations under the shadow of the recent accident and with plans for different scales of operation moving forward.
