Danielle Laidley gets behind Archie Alexander’s Project Pride, racing’s first LGBTQIA+ and allies-owned racehorse syndicate

Transgender advocate Danielle Laidley has praised trainer Archie Alexander and wife Annie for initiating Project Pride, which will have its first starter at Bendigo on Thursday.

Project Pride filly Areyoureadyforit with owner ambassadors Danielle Laidley and Donna Leckie and trainer Archie Alexander. Picture: David Caird

Archie and Annie Alexander’s Project Pride concept will become reality on Thursday at Bendigo with flag bearer Areyoureadyforit, an LGBTQIA+ and allies-owned racehorse, set to debut.

The Alexanders launched Project Pride last year to increase visibility and promote inclusivity and diversity within the racing industry.

“There’s plenty of people from the rainbow community in racing and in our industry,” Annie Alexander said.

“When you’re trying to promote inclusivity and diversity, visibility is such a big thing.”

Areyoureadyforit, named after the Taylor Swift hit Ready For It?, is the first Australian racehorse to carry the Progress Pride flag colours.

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Progress Pride, a design based on the iconic rainbow flag, has five additional coloured Vs to represent black and brown people of colour and baby blue, pink and white for the transgender, gender non-binary, intersex and those across the gender spectrum.

Areyoureadyforit owner ambassador Danielle Laidley, who will be glued to the television from Perth on Thursday, praised the Alexanders’ vision.

“The reality is you can’t be what you can’t see, for the Alexanders to come up with this idea is at the forefront of being ambassadors and allies for our community,” the North Melbourne premiership star-turned-transgender advocate Laidley said.

“There’s real excitement about the colours … hopefully she runs a good race and we can see those colours more and more and hopefully one day we see her on the big stage wearing those colours.

“If we can do that, the more people we can educate and talk to about it, it can only be a good thing.”

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Laidley said the Swift-inspired name resonated with the ownership, made up of new and existing Alexander Racing clients who wanted to support Project Pride.

“It seemed to fit really, really well, Are you ready for it? Are you ready for the journey, are you ready for the excitement of the horse and the colours and being involved, so it fit just nicely.”

Areyoureadyforit, a $51 chance with TAB, has run second in two jumpouts to prepare for her first start.

The Headwater filly out of Southern Girl showed promise last year but needed extra time to mature – hence the late season debut.

“I think she’ll be city class in time,” Archie Alexander said.

“Starting out you don’t want to be out wide but maybe Bendigo, tired winter track, she might not be in the worst spot.”

Originally published as Danielle Laidley gets behind Archie Alexander’s Project Pride, racing’s first LGBTQIA+ and allies-owned racehorse syndicate