David Peake achieved over 2000 victories during his remarkable 40-year riding career. He was known for his humble demeanor yet displayed fierce competitiveness as a senior jockey

DAVID PEAKE is an accomplished individual, recognised as one of New Zealand's premier jockeys of his generation. He consistently demonstrated grace and humility, while simultaneously exhibiting intense competitiveness throughout his distinguished 40-year professional career in the saddle. Peake rode in excess of 2000 winners in over four decades in the saddle, riding not only in New Zealand, but also Australia, Japan Singapore, Hong Kong, United States, South Africa and even Rhodesia.

The exceptional talent of David Peake was unequivocally demonstrated during his final race at Tauranga in 2002. The 56-year-old, who had been riding for 40 years, went into the day quietly confident of a bold showing from COUNTRY FAIR, and that confidence was shared by the horse's Te Rapa owner-trainer, Cliff Wilson, a long-time supporter of Peake. Peake settled Country Fair among the tailenders and moved him forward approaching the home turn. Once into the straight, Peake set Country Fair out after the leaders and the horse maintained a strong gallop down the outside to win. The victory marked a perfect farewell for a jockey who is third on the all-time list of New Zealand jockeys with a total of 2085 wins

David Peake was born in Napier in 1945 to parents who had no involvement in horse racing with his father working on the railways. He was initially inspired by his sister Yvonne joining a pony club where he felt he got on better with her horses then she did. Peake was first licensed as an apprentice in June 1962. He joined forces with the Takanini stable of the late George Cameron, with David the alarm clock who would wake everyone and put the billy on. His first winner coming on the scrawny little mare BAY ABBEY in a hack race at Paeroa on September 15, 1962. He was leading apprentice in his first year with 29 wins. A young Peake remembers watching Grenville Hughes to learn riding techniques and Hughes was fined £50 for chewing him out one time. Despite some adversity, Peake looked forward to better opportunities.

Peake rode plenty of winners for George Cameron, but it was his association with Ray Verner that was to define his career. For a decade and a half, the pair terrorized the opposition with the likes of GOOD LORD, PRINCE MAJESTIC, BLUE BLOOD, TURFCUTTER, KASHMIR BELLE and MELODY BELLE. It was on Prince Majestic in Randwick's Spring Championship Stakes in the late 1970s that Peake showed the world how tough he was, and it was clear that every Australian jockey in the race wanted him beaten.

For two-and-a-quarter minutes Peake's life was a misery. He and PRINCE MAJESTIC were jammed against the inside running rail by Darby Munro and the interference the combination suffered on the home turn was astonishing. Fortunately Prince Majestic was a huge unit and, with a bit of his own barging, Peake somehow managed to extract him from the hole and the great horse that he was charged down the outside to win. Prince Majestic returned with white paint from the running rail down his entire right side as a clear sign he had been knocked about a fair bit with horse and jockey almost going over the rail at one point. "That was the toughest race I ever rode in," Peake once said. If you saw a video of the race you wouldn't need to be Einstein to figure money probably changed hands.

ROYAL SHEEN's 1967 Auckland Cup win really set Peake's career alight and was probably the greatest race of his apprentice life. It was at the expense of one of the best stayers of the time, TERRIFIC, and the rival Peake respected ahead of just about anyone, Grenville Hughes. Terrific was trained by Merv Ritchie in partnership for the first year with his son, Frank. The late Dr McGregor Grant had promised the Ritchies two full training percentages if Terrific won. Peake was told to stick close to Hughes and not let him out of your sight. Peake tracked Grenville from the mile and on the home turn ranged up alongside.

"Hughes was smiling, but when he looked across at us the smile turned to a scowl."

Terrific and Roval Sheen staged a remarkable home-straight battle with Royal Sheen's lighter weight just getting him the decision - and it was close with both horses drawing the outside gates before battling neck and neck to the line in one of the most memorable Auckland Cups.

GOOD LORD, known as MY GOOD MAN in Australia, proved to be Peake's brightest 3200m star, winning the 1978 Sydney Cup with a staggering 60kg, He won it easily, but it had been an interesting and challenging race with some lightweights carrying only 47kg. McCarthy was five wide on HYPERNO and started squeezing them up on inside. Peake managed to get out with three horses boxing him in. Despite the big weight, when GOOD LORD sprinted away that day, he was just too good for them. Peake even won on GOOD LORD at Te Rapa in front of Queen Elizabeth II and after meeting her, was so overwhelmed he couldn’t remember what he said.

The 1970s was a treasure trove for David Peake, winning the jockeys Premiership five times, although he had to share it with Noel Harris in season 1972-73. He was the leading jockey in the 1970s, with 794 wins, including five winners in a day for Verner at Pukekohe. Peake was bitterly disappointed Ray Verner denied him the chance to ride GOOD LORD to victory in the 1977 Wellington Cup, but he did win the horses second Cup victory the following year and it didn't stop the successful association with a number of other fine Verner runners. His first Group 1 win didn't come until 1984 on SHIFNAL PRINCE over the mile at Trentham. Peake also successfully combined with one of Dave O'Sullivan's early great stars, SHIVAREE.

BLUE BLOOD was the best sprinter David Peake ever rode, and he won three Telegraph Handicaps. When he won his third Telegraph Peake was in behind them halfway down the straight and the gap opened. But it was too early and he waited, then the gap closed. He was certain they'd run out of time, but in desperation hooked him out wide and he picked them up easily.

If a single word were to characterise Peake's extensive career, it would be - resilience. No individual has completed a greater number of gallops at the Takanini training facility. Peake consistently arrived first each morning and departed late. His physical conditioning was exceptional, and his mental fortitude, legendary. He consistently ensured compliance from his horses without resorting to punitive measures. In critical race situations, he would request their cooperation, and if met with resistance, guide them with a reassuring, but firm hand. Peake was considered one of the best hand and heels riders ever seen in New Zealand.

DAVID PEAKE retired with wins in the Sydney, Auckland and Wellington Cups, but the Melbourne Cup alluded him, finishing 6th on TURFCUTTER and a 3rd in the Caulfield Cup on that same horse. Peake achieved 392 winners on the Hallowed Ellerslie course and broke Bill Skeltons record of 127 winners in a season to go along with his sixth jockeys Premiership in 1982-83. Peake brought up his 2000th winner on KNOCKROBIN in April 1998 at Ellerslie over 1400m but found it harder to get the big rides with younger, more ambitious jockeys coming through the ranks. He retired to mentor young apprentices before gardening for Hanuni Farm in his later years. Peakey was a true racing legend and was inducted into the NZ Racing Hall of fame in 2010