LAURA LAFFERTY
After studying exercise science at Deakin University, Lafferty’s connection with horses deepened as she worked trackwork for local trainers. “I loved riding trackwork and working with horses,” she said. Her decision to apply for the apprentice jockey program was a game-changer. “I didn’t even tell my family I’d applied. Dad found out through a friend in racing and called me to say he thought it was a good decision.” Joining the program meant moving to Melbourne at just 19, living alone, and navigating the demanding lifestyle of a jockey. It was a tough transition, but one that shaped her resilience. “You have to manage your time, your workload, and your weight, and keep learning,” she explained to the VRC last year. And that she did – through the challenges and the setbacks, including a fall at Swan Hill in 2021 that left her with injuries but not the determination to quit. Lafferty has accumulated 124 wins and continues to sharpen her skills under the guidance of mentors like trainer Nick Ryan. “Nick told me, ‘You have to be tough mentally. Not everything will go your way, but you have to learn from it and try again the next day.’” It’s advice she’s taken to heart, applying it to her recovery journey just as much as to her racing career. A standout moment came on 20 May 2023, when Lafferty won her first ride at Flemington on VRC National Jockeys Trust Race Day. After 23 tries, she secured her maiden Flemington victory aboard topweight Jenny Jerome in the Living Legends Plate (1400m). But she didn’t stop there. She quickly made it a double, partnering the highly talented mare Sigh to victory in the Stableline Sprint (1100m). The success was a testament to her perseverance and growing confidence as a jockey.
Laura guides Jenny Jerome home in the Living Legends Plate on , her maiden Flemington victory and the first of a double for the up-and-coming jockey. (Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)
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