Racing
New mum Krysten Swaffer enjoying life on and off the track
Cairns apprentice jockey Krysten Swaffer says her young daughter Lainey is just as obsessed with horses as she is.
The 26-year-old hoop is on the comeback trail in North Queensland after welcoming her first child into the world in April of last year.
The sister of former jockey Braydn Swaffer landed three winners last season in the first few months of her return to the saddle and has one victory to her name so far in the 2025-26 campaign.
That one triumph so far this season was aboard Major Artie in the feature Banana Cup at Innisfail late last month.
Swaffer is doing so while managing a job away from racing, as well.
She is focusing on riding at country meetings in North Queensland on Saturdays on top of midweek Cairns TAB meetings.
And, she is usually doing so with young Lainey cheering her on trackside.
"She loves going to the races and whenever my partner is home – as he works away – they will go to the races together," Swaffer said.
"They are supporting me over the fence when they can be there. It is wonderful for her to be on the sidelines and be able to watch."
Swaffer has been with the father-and-son Rowe training partnership since her infancy in the industry.
She was riding winners for Trevor and Peter when she first kicked off and she has returned to their Cannon Park barn following Lainey being welcomed into the world.
The significance of returning to riding so soon after giving birth to her daughter is not lost on Swaffer's masters.
"It is a big achievement and there is a lot of pressure on her," co-trainer Peter said.
"She has grown up on horseback and that is where she is comfortable. It is onwards and upwards from here, she is riding extremely well and she is full of confidence.
"It has been a long road to get her back, but she is back and she is happy, that is what matters."
Fellow Cairns trainer Scott Cooper – who previously was a jockey himself – applauded Swaffer's dedication.
"For her to come back as a rider, with a little one at foot, it is a big achievement," Cooper said.
"She is a good little rider."
Veteran stayer Merry Old Soul has been key in Swaffer's return to the winner's enclosure.
She scored aboard the seven-year-old gelding at Mareeba in late May before winning again aboard him at Innisfail in late June.
Swaffer's victory aboard Merry Old Soul was her first since May of 2023 at Mareeba after a couple of years on the sidelines following the birth of her daughter Lainey as well as a couple of injury setbacks.
With those couple of victories and a few more placings, Peter believes Merry Old Soul's results have done Swaffer's confidence the world of good on the comeback journey.
"She is a very dedicated worker," Peter said.
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