Danny Peisley set to make a difference in mental health

By Jordan Gerrans

After losing his brother to suicide and having his own personal challenges earlier in his life, jockey Danny Peisley knows all too well the challenges that come with mental health.

That is why he is doing something about it in his own personal life. 

As well as riding in the Sunshine State and the Northern Rivers of NSW regularly, the 38-year-old hoop is studying a course in mental health that he believes will better himself as well as those around him. 

Peisley battled with drug and alcohol addiction earlier in his life before getting clean in recent years. 

Through Celtric Training, Peisley is studying a Certificate IV in Mental Health which is designed to reflect the role of mental health workers who provide self-directed, recovery-oriented support to those affected by mental illness and psychiatric disability.

Now based on the Gold Coast, Peisley has a strong book of rides this Saturday on the program for the annual Men Matter Raceday.

Peisley’s mental health course runs for 12 months and includes 80 hours of work placement.

He had been searching for an avenue to study in the mental health field in recent years but struggled to find something that fit around his schedule as a rider.

With the Certificate IV in Mental Health being mostly online, he believes it is a perfect fit. 

“Hopefully at the end of it I can help people in the racing game,” Peisley said.

“That could be young jockeys or old jockeys, trainers or stablehands, or anyone in the industry really.

“It is a really good course and I am picking up new messages every day.

“I get better by doing this and everyone else around me will get better, as well.”

Now in its fifth year, the Men Matter Raceday continues to grow as a powerful initiative raising awareness and vital funds for men’s health charities, with $380,000 raised to date. 

Gold Coast Turf Club chairman Brett Cook is looking forward to showcasing the event alongside the Cox Plate program from Melbourne this Saturday. 

“It is focused on physical and mental health,” Cook said.

“We support organizations and charities every year through this to raise money.

“We are very pleased to have it on Cox Plate day this year.

“We want to make this event bigger and bigger.”

Peisley backed initiatives such as the Men Matter Raceday as crucial following the death of his brother Nigel to suicide four years ago.

“It is good to encourage men to speak up, reach out and be vulnerable,” Peisley said.

“There is a lot of pride and ego with men and if you can drop that and be vulnerable then it shows there is no difference in us, we are all the same.

“We all have the same feelings, emotions and thoughts – we all struggle.

“I have had my troubles with mental health in my late 20s when I was using drugs and alcohol.

“It has gotten better now but I had to get the right support behind me, with the right men around me to push me through things and situations. I was encouraged to be better.”

On the track away from the fundraising efforts, Peisley is poised to have a positive day in the saddle as he is booked to ride for trainers John Smerdon, Declan Maher, Peter Robl and Gary Doughty. 

He has enjoyed a strong couple of years in the saddle, piloting 25 and 32 winners in the last two seasons. 

The Gold Coast-based hoop has eight to his name so far this campaign and was last in the winner’s enclosure on Sunday afternoon at Lismore. 

“It is great to get support from trainers like this,” he said of his rides on Saturday at the Gold Coast. 

“I am stoked with the way it has been going; it has slowly been getting better and better.

“The support has picked up here at the Gold Coast and it has made it easier for me.

“I have been having a bit of luck lately and putting them in the right spots, which has been great.”

Following Saturday's card at the Gold Coast, Peisley heads to Port Macquarie Race Club on Sunday for two rides for conditioner David Matts.

The Arron Kennedy Memorial race will be one of the highlights on the Gold Coast track this Saturday.

Kennedy – a Group 1-winning hoop during his career – battled drug addiction and alcoholism for much of his adult life before his eventual death.

The late Kennedy loved his time at the Gold Coast, where he won a rider's premiership.

Click here for more information on Men Matter Raceday for 2025.