Jockey Danny Peisley working through his goals

By Jordan Gerrans

Hoop Danny Peisley has set himself the lofty goal of riding 50 winners in the 2025-26 campaign.

The 39-year-old Peisley has enjoyed a strong run of form through February as he has grabbed four winners as he builds towards his aim of riding a half-a-ton of winners for the season.

Peisley is based on the Gold Coast and regularly heads to the Northern Rivers of New South Wales for riding engagements.

He originally hails from Port Macquarie but has made the Sunshine State home in recent times.

With 22 winners to his name so far in the 2025-26 season, Peisley has some work to do to achieve his goal of 50 victories for the term before the end of July.

Peisley battled with drug and alcohol addiction earlier in his life and says that goal setting is key to his recovery.

He has been sober for the last six years.

“I definitely think setting goals is really important,” the rider said. 

"I write down all my goals, yearly, daily goals, whatever it needs to be. I've set my riding to ride 50 winners this season, so I'm aiming for that.”

Peisley’s riding career hit a significant speedbump between the 2017-18 and 2021-22 seasons when he was at his lowest with his drug and alcohol battles.

Since getting clean, he has worked hard to have a career renaissance in the saddle.

He tallied 32 winners last season, which was his best result for a term dating back to the 2010-11 campaign when he collected 49 winners.

In his return to the racing spotlight in recent years, Peisley has been backed by a few heavyweights of the industry, including champion trainer Chris Waller and former top rider Michael Cahill.

Peisley regularly rides trackwork for the Waller satellite stable at the Gold Coast, which is headed by foreman Brett Killion, and is often handed race day opportunities from the leading barn. 

Multiple Group 1-winner Cahill has retired in recent times but still rides trackwork alongside Peisley on a consistent basis.

He says the influence of leading industry figures such as Cahill, Waller and Killion have been instrumental.

“I'm lucky enough to have Michael Cahill riding with him every morning,” he said.

“He guides me with things I need to brush up on. 

“I'm open. I'm not too old. I'm an open book. It's always going to keep improving because I'm learning.

“You never stop learning. I always find that out. I've been riding well. It just keeps improving.

“I'm just really grateful I'm back in the industry and back getting opportunities.  

"To be working for Chris Waller, having blokes like Killion there, it’s a real pleasure.”

Peisley’s partner Bailie Baker, who is also a Gold Coast-based jockey, is full of admiration when she talks about his sobriety over the last six years.  

“I am overly proud because it's such a tough sport mentally and physically,” Baker said.

“You're always tired and struggling with a lot. I think I'm very, very proud that he just keeps going and sticks through it.

“He is a massive support to me, as well. Not even just with my riding, but mentally.

“He is a very, very big support just to help me ground myself even after the races or just in personal life.”

After losing his brother Nigel to suicide and having his own personal challenges earlier in his life, jockey 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. 

The hoop is studying a course in mental health that he believes will better himself as well as those around him. 

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.

In his own words, Peisley admits he lost everything that was important to him earlier in his life and he is keen to help others in the space, so they don’t make the same mistakes he did.

“I've had my ups and downs in my mental health issues and challenges,” the jockey said.

“I've got a lot of lived experience. I've learnt now.

“My big challenges were my drugs and alcohol. I'm completely sober now. I use a daily program and it works.  And, if I can teach somebody that, that's great. 

“If I can do it, anyone can do it. I lost everything. I lost family, the whole lot and other material things. And, gradually I've got them all back and more.

“With my course, I have done it just to challenge myself and give myself self-development. 

“It's been great. I can really see a good future in it.”

Peisley is hopeful that he can guide people in the industry once he has completed his studies.

“I think the direction the world's going, I think mental health is the place you want to be,” he said. 

“I see a lot of people in the industry that need help and could really do with some guidance. Or, even if I can just provide a service where someone can ring me and I can point them in the right direction.

“Whether it's a Group 1 jockey or it's just someone cleaning out boxes, I want to be able to help.

“But, if I can just help someone else get back on track or stay on track, I believe I'm the right person for that. 

"There are places to reach out and there are people to talk to.”

Respected retired hoop Cahill praised Peisley for his recent run of great form. 

"Danny has always been a rider blessed with natural ability," Cahill said. 

"If I do anything to help its mostly just reminding him of what he is capable of.

"He is riding in super form and as I remind him, with the correct preparation and opportunities his best days are ahead of him."

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