Community & Business
28 October, 2025
From the farm to racing glory
AFTER growing up on a farm on the Atherton Tablelands, champion jockey Michael Pelling says he is content with everything he achieved on the track in his home state.
By Jordan Gerrans & Andrew Smith
The retired jockey was one of four inductees into the Queensland Racing Hall of Fame at the 2025 Queensland Thoroughbred Awards earlier this month.
Pelling’s sparkling career in the saddle included four Group 1 victories, four Metropolitan Jockeys’ Premierships and more than 1,500 career wins.
Now 69 years of age and long retired from the saddle, Pelling more than held his own against the great riders of his generation including Glen Boss and Mick Dittman, among others.
But what stands out about Boss and Dittman’s career compared to Pelling’s is that they achieved high-level success in southern states as well as internationally.
While Pelling rode interstate at times during his career, the Queenslander was a force in Brisbane mostly. He does not have any regrets about missing out on feature riding in Sydney and Melbourne as his family was his focus.
“Sometimes you reflect on the decisions and what you do in life, I must have been ok as a rider because I was competitive against Mick Dittman, Glen Boss, Graham Cook, Kenny Russell and Brian York, among others,” Pelling said.
“I held my own against all of them and they all went to Sydney or Melbourne and went to the top.
“I would have done ok down there but my thinking behind not going down there was that I was married and my wife’s family lived close by.
“We decided to be close to our family for the grandparents and grandchildren, family like that is very important.
“I was successful in Queensland, I was making good money and that was enough for me – I didn’t need any more.”
Pelling had his one and only ride in a Melbourne Cup in 1981.
For a kid who grew up on a farm in FNQ to rise to the top of the Brisbane jockey room – Pelling was satisfied dominating on home soil.
“I am chuffed, I never would have expected this,” Pelling said of being included in the Hall of Fame.
“It is something that never would have crossed my mind and I am really proud. I was very competitive and I loved what I did.”
The Hall of Fame inductee tasted victory in three Doomben 10,000s – aboard Unequalled (1993), Suntain (1996) and Laurie’s Lottery (1999) - as well as the Group 2 1998 Queensland Guineas on Insecure.
Pelling’s fourth Group 1 was achieved in the QTC Derby with Mr Cromwell for legendary local trainer Jim Atkins. The late Atkins and late Pat Duff were the two greatest influences in Pelling’s life and in his career as a jockey.
He arrived at Duff’s stables as a 15-year-old from the Atherton Tablelands and Pelling said they found common ground in the way they viewed the world.
Pat Duff passed away in November last year, with his son Michael declaring his late father would have loved to see Pelling be included into the Hall of Fame.
“Dad would be so very, very happy that this has happened,” Michael Duff said.
“He would be so pleased that this has happened for Mick, who is someone who is so deserving of this honour.
“The only great disappointment is that he died a year ago and wasn’t here to deliver a speech himself.”
