Peta’s journey back to country

By Jordan Gerrans

Being a jockey has taken Townsville’s Peta Edwards across Australia, but starting her apprenticeship on the land her Indigenous family group hails from remains a particularly special memory.

The well-travelled hoop is a proud Warrgamay woman from the Ingham area in North Queensland.

Born in Charters Towers, Edwards spent time riding and working in Townsville as a young person before beginning her jockey journey at the Ingham track.

The Warrgamay people’s traditional country covers coastal and inland areas including Ingham, Cardwell, Lucinda and Halifax Bay.

Speaking to Racing Queensland as part of the Racing For Reconciliation series, Edwards looks back on those early experiences in the saddle with joy.

“Ingham, it’s a beautiful place,” she recalls.

“Even trackwork, riding trackwork up there, it was like a real connection to country, actually.

“Because my mob is from Ingham, just the relevance of starting my apprenticeship and everything there.

“I originally started with Errol Covell there, just learning and whatever else. I was always there at that winning post at trackwork.

“There are two mobs up there, so we’re Warrgamay and there’s Nywaigi up there, too, so they’re not too far apart.”

Edwards kicked off her career in May of 2005 at Cloncurry and grabbed her maiden triumph at Hughenden the following month.

She enjoyed consistent success in the north, registering a combined 40 winners at Townsville, Mackay and Home Hill in the coming years before the tragic passing of her mother.

She did plenty of riding for her stepfather, Phillip Alley, in the old days when he prepared a team of gallopers.

Following the passing of her mother, Edwards relocated to Western Australia, where she was based until late 2025.

She rode her first winner back at Cluden Park in the middle of December last year.

Edwards scored a winning double at Hughenden in May this year for the McGuire racing family.

Cluden Park trainer Matthew McGuire believes having Edwards connected to his stable has been beneficial.

“Peta brings a heap of experience to our stable now that she’s riding for us,” McGuire said.

“She’s obviously ventured around Australia a little bit and made her way back home again, so it’s good to see her back in Townsville and helping us out.

“I know she’s a big fan of the pink, our stable colours, and she rocks the pink colours every morning as well, so it’s good to see.

“But, since she’s been back, we’ve taken her to some race meetings and she’s got a win or two for us, so all of her experience and everything is great for our team.

“I think she would have been back nearly 12 months now and just also her work ethic, she’s there every morning, as well.

“It helps to have someone reliable rock up every morning and help ride work for us and we value those things in our team; we really appreciate it.”

Edwards’ immediate family were not involved in racing during her younger years, but many of them were accomplished horsemen and horsewomen.

When her late mother met her eventual stepfather, Alley, she was set on the path to becoming a jockey.

“My real father was a bull rider and a slaughterman,” she notes.

“My grandparents worked on stations. They were horsewomen and horsemen and that’s where it comes from. I’m probably the last one carrying on the horse gene.

“First one in the racing industry, but I’m proud of what I’ve done, what I’ve achieved so far.

“I was always a lover of horses. I remember from a very young age, I always loved horses. I always went out to my aunty’s farm in Charters Towers and they had a lot of bush ponies and whatever else.

“I used to love jumping on them bareback. I had no fear. My stepdad, he put the fine touches on, sent me to pony club. He taught me a lot about riding in the saddle.

“That was a whole new era, that’s where the passion and the love came in.”

As a young person, Edwards was inspired by former Townsville hoop Dawn Andrews, as well as trailblazing female jockey Pam O’Neill.

The Warrgamay woman says she has never faced racism or discrimination within racing because of her skin colour or family heritage.

“Early on, I think just the stigma of being an Indigenous person in racing, which is the sport of kings,” she said.

“There weren’t too many Indigenous people in the racing industry.

“I think I was one of the first Indigenous female apprentices to go through the Deagon course.

“I didn’t have too much backlash. I had a lot of support early. I ended up with a really good boss and he used to source a lot of my rides.

“I was very lucky and gifted that way. Everybody just takes everybody as they are. 

“I don’t think I’ve copped too much flack in what I do.

“Actually, through my career I’ve been pretty gifted in that sense. There’s been no racism or anything like that. It’s been pretty good.”

Edwards has been nominated for Indigenous sportspeople awards throughout her career.

Having recently ticked past her 40th birthday, Edwards still has plenty of riding in front of her.

But, she also has a new goal in racing - to guide her young son into the jockey ranks, as well.

Edwards’ son Tattaum is riding trackwork in North Queensland and is hopeful of beginning his own journey as an apprentice soon.

The stalwart jockey encouraged any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person to chase their dreams in racing.

“Just give it a go. If you’ve got that passion for something, you can achieve your goals,” she said.

“When I first started, it wasn’t really set up for women and people like Pam O’Neill set the pathway.

“If you want to follow your dreams, do it. And, I believe in a lot of second chances and third chances. As a youth you might stuff up a couple of times and there’s always leeway for that.

“I was no saint as a kid, but I was lucky enough, I was grounded enough. I had a good Mum and Dad and they’ve steered me in the right direction in the end.

“Now, I sit back and think how good it was and I gave it a go. It was wonderful.

“You think to yourself, at that time I thought there was still a long way to go.

“I still had plenty to learn. But, I was grateful that stepping stone marked the pathway for me and what I’ve achieved in my career.”

Edwards’ move back to Townsville has inspired her sister to return to the industry as well, with her now working in the stable of Graham Hughes and strapping for Maree Young.

Edwards heads to Cluden Park on Friday with a big book of rides for trainers Cheynee Morrison and Scott Seymour.