Racing for the rainbow: former footy great Dani Laidley’s ground breaking new venture

Former AFL coach and transgender advocate Danielle Laidley is bringing Pride to racing as an ambassador for Australia’s first LGBTQIA+ and allies-owned racehorse syndicate.

Dani Laidley with the Pride filly and others involved with the groundbreaking project. Picture: David Caird

Former AFL coach and transgender advocate Danielle Laidley is bringing pride and visibility to racing.

Laidley and her partner Donna Leckie are the owner ambassadors for Project Pride, Australia’s first LGBTQIA+ and allies-owned racehorse syndicate.

Ballarat based trainer Archie Alexander and his wife Annie initiated the project and are syndicating Project Pride’s first horse, a filly by the sire Headwater.

The horse will race in Project Pride’s racing colours which are inspired by the rainbow flag.

“This has been a great idea by Alexander Racing to have a horse syndicate for the LGBTQIA+ rainbow community and allies, and to help people understand a little bit more about the rainbow community,” Laidley said of the ground breaking initiative.

The Project Pride racehorse gets loving a pat from owner ambassador Danielle Laidley. Picture: David Caird

“For people who want to come and meet new friends in a safe, inclusive space, we think it is an amazing idea, and if it helps anybody, any allies or friends or family from the rainbow community, that is an absolutely great thing.

“From an idea this is now a reality and it is visible and Donna and I are just so grateful to be a part of this Project Pride syndicate.”

Laidley and Leckie are already regular racegoers.

“When we first found out it was a no-brainer; we knew we had to be involved with this,” Leckie said.

“We are really excited.”

Annie Alexander said she and her husband, Archie, were inspired to start the syndicate by their family friend Will Grange.

“We were talking and he mentioned that while there are plenty of people from the LGBTQIA+ community in our industry there is just very little representation for them,” Annie said.

“From our position as trainers we felt this is what we can do to bridge that gap and welcome new people into our industry and create a safe space for them to be involved.

Trainer Archie Alexander, Project Pride manager Annie Alexander, jockey Paige Hopper and ambassadors Donna Leckie and Danielle Laidley with the Pride filly. Picture: David Caird

“This filly when she goes to the races she will literally be flying the flag for the rainbow community.”

Archie Alexander said the Project Pride filly had been purchased from the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

“She is a very nice filly that I think will be a sprinter,” he said.

“Hopefully she will be a two-year-old and be able to give the owners some fun early on.”

The Project Pride owner experience includes potential prizemoney returns, racing in the exclusive Project Pride rainbow jockey colours, group naming of the horse (by vote), attending a host of exciting and inclusive race days and events, regular digital updates of the filly’s journey, personalised stable visits, and the opportunity to make lifelong friendships.

For more information on the Project Pride syndicate go to alexanderracing.com.au