New mum Krysten Swaffer enjoying life on and off the track

By Jordan Gerrans

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.

“She needs to juggle riding, being a mother and she also works outside of the racing game in admin, as well.

“She does an impeccable job managing it all. She is doing an excellent job and is getting the rewards.”

Swaffer's older brother Braydn was an apprentice for the Rowe camp and rode for them when he became a senior jockey, as well. 

Krysten followed in his footsteps a few years later. 

The Swaffer clan and the Rowes have been intertwined for decades.

“They have been like family to me and to Lainey,” Swaffer said.

Swaffer has always been a lightweight rider but in her comeback bid earlier this year, she says the biggest challenge about getting back to the races was lifting her fitness back to the previous levels.

Young Lainey loves her horses, just like her mother, as they have several at their Gordonvale home, which is just south of Cairns. 

“She is a bubbling personality,” Swaffer said of her daughter. 

“She really is a good girl and she loves her horses.

“She is very energetic. She is a great baby and really loves her horses.”

While it can be a lot to manage a young daughter, riding in races as well as a job outside of racing, Swaffer says a smile from Lainey or her next winner is always driving her. 

“There was always a light at the end of the tunnel for when you ride a winner, it is always rewarding,” she said.

“Being a mum, is your priority. It is something you just adapt to.

“I love the horses and being a mum, but it is nice when you can merge those things together and she can come along and watch.”

Swaffer is one of many jockeys who have used Racing Queensland’s Maternity Support Scheme.

The scheme was introduced in September 2020 to provide financial support for both female jockeys and harness racing drivers during their pregnancies.

Queensland participants are required to cease riding or driving during the final two trimesters of their pregnancies.

With participants unable to access the Federal Government’s Paid Parental Leave Scheme until the birth of their child, RQ’s Maternity Support Scheme was born.

Eligible participants receive an amount equal to the average weekly income they earned from riding or driving in races during the past 12 months, capped at $750 per week for a period of 20 weeks.