Female jockey Pam O’Neill has received a Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to horse racing.

O’Neill opened the door for females to enter the ranks as jockeys in Australia.

Neil Breen said it was “fabulous” she was honoured.

“She is a trailblazer in the true sense of the word.

“What a star!”

She tried for 14 years to get a jockey’s license, and was finally granted one in 1979, and was the first ever female licensed jockey in Australia.

“Neil, I am really chuffed about it,” she said on 4BC Breakfast.

“I don’t feel anything special, I just felt I was there at the time and I wanted to do it, but it’s an honour to be recognised by your peers, and I am very honoured by it.”

She explained how she campaigned to be able to ride with a number of other people.

“I said it’s got to be changed, I can’t see why women can’t ride against the men.

“At that time too, there was a real discrimination against women, like they even had certain parts on the racecourse where women couldn’t go.”

Press PLAY below to her more about what the honour means to her

Image: Getty iStock