FNQ is fortunate to have so many outstanding females who contribute to making the horse racing industry a more diverse and richer environment.
To mark the occasion, the Cairns Jockey Club has shone the spotlight on eight prominent local women, to discuss their recent achievements, the significance of International Women’s Day, and what they hope to see for women in the industry going forward.
KRYSTEN SWAFFER
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠?
I’m an Apprentice Jockey which involves race riding, as well as stable hand duties in the afternoons.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮?
Recognising and celebrating the achievements of women in all their diversities and the contributions we women make each day to society.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬?
At the last 2 race meetings in Cairns, I rode a double each day for the boss and team – 4/02 on Hard Yaga and Desert Cowboy and 18/02 on Alexandra Margaret and Desert Cowboy.
𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮?
Michelle Payne was the first woman in racing to inspire me for the fact she never took no for an answer when people doubted her abilities. As well as Jamie Kah who really inspires us female jockeys and makes us proud to be women succeeding in what once was a male-only sport.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲?
It’s a male-dominated sport, you have to prove yourself twice as much as male jockeys to receive the same opportunities.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐫?
Last year when I won the CJC Apprentice of the Year which was a great achievement for my first-year race riding.
KRYSTIN ALLENDER
𝟏. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠?
I’m a Trainer and trackwork rider. I also work on race days as a barrier attendant and clerk of the course.
𝟐. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐖𝐃 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮?
A day to recognise women who work hard to achieve their goals no matter the obstacles and to appreciate the women that have stood up for equal rights and proven women are just as capable as men. These are the women who have made it easier for the younger generation coming through the industry to succeed and be heard.
𝟑. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬?
In the last four months I have had the most success so far in my training career with six winners in Love Flies, Inching Closer and Danger One.
𝟒. 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮?
One of my biggest inspirations is someone I class as family, a trainer from Linton, Victoria – Kylie Vella. She is a woman that never gives up no matter what she encounters in life. She is a true inspiration and I hope that I can be as strong and hard working as she has always been.
𝟓. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲?
The main challenge for women in racing is the few men in the game that still like to say women aren’t strong enough and shouldn’t be doing it. Negativity from men can make women think they aren’t good enough, however, most women will use that negativity to prove that we are just as capable.
𝟔. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐫?
My most recent win at Townsville with Danger One on the 12/02. This horse has been a huge challenge. After I got him he put a hole in his tendon, I was told he probably wouldn’t race again so I got a second opinion giving him a 70% chance. I did a full tendon rehab program and got him back to the races and finally to the winner’s stall. The hard work, persistence and patience paid off.
TINA WALLIN
𝟏. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠?
I’m trainer Stephen Massingham’s partner so I assist with a little bit of everything! From stable hand, strapper and owner duties, to assisting with paperwork.
𝟐. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐖𝐃 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮?
Not only recognising and celebrating the achievements of women in the racing industry but for all women who are working, raising families, contributing and being successful in society.
𝟑. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬?
For me seeing our horses take to the track in great order, looking well and getting around safely is a success. Having happy healthy horses is where it starts.
𝟒. 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮?
All women in the racing industry inspire me, this is a male dominated industry, women generally must work a little harder to prove themselves. I do admire Michelle Payne – her Melbourne Cup win is a very special memory for me. My father in-law Pop Massingham passed away the day before. I backed the $101 shot. So many people doubted Michelle Payne and she went out and gave it her best!
𝟓. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐫?
Being an owner, stable hand/strapper to North Qld’s Cult Hero “THE HARROVIAN”. In 2019 we won the Townsville Cup, Cairns Cup and the Cairns Amateur Cup with Big H and in 2021 he took us to the All Star Mile in Melbourne! Not much can top this.
𝟔. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝?
More women in the industry! If you are thinking about getting involved, just do it. You meet great people and there is a whole lot of fun to be had.
Why not head trackside to celebrate #IWD2022 and the achievements of women across the globe including those in the racing industry.
Gates open 12 noon with 7 fantastic horse races.
Air-conditioned seating, bar, TAB, bookmaker and cafe facilities available.
Women receive free entry.
Tickets available at the gate
General Admission: $10
Pensioners: $5
Children Under 15: Free
