Laura is the granddaughter of late, great Warrnambool trainer Kevin Lafferty and is the daughter of Peter Lafferty. 

The 18-year-old will join high-profile racing identities John Wheeler and Brett Scott as ambassadors at the three-day carnival. 

“It’s very important to our whole family,” she said. “It’s the third generation. My grandfather won the Grand Annual three times and (came first and second) once.” He also won two Warrnambool Cups.

As part of the role, Laura judged fashions on the field at the Terang Cup and attended a sponsors’ night held in the Matilda Room. She will attend the carnival and official club functions this week. 

She said it was an honour to be chosen. “The race club have definitely embraced the Lafferty (name) and the support of the racing club in not forgetting my grandfather’s achievements.  

“It’s still very much alive in the club and I’m just honoured to be able to continue that in some way.” 

Laura said she loved the Grand Annual Steeplechase and believes the sport of jumps racing should be promoted.  “We have such a great carnival and we pride ourselves on the feature races, the jumps races; the Grand Annual and the Brierly Steeplechase.” 

Laura said it was a sight to behold when people stopped to watch the Grand Annual from the hill, grandstands and even the roadside. “It is embraced by a lot of the community,” she said. 

She is looking forward to dressing up and attending the carnival in a social capacity with her mum Sharon and sister Hillary.

“Usually I love to be working at the races. I love the horse side more than the fashion. If we have a horse racing usually I’ll strap. Last year I strapped for local trainer Simon Ryan, he had a few runners in and also John Macmillian who is our family friend from Adelaide. I strapped for him last year.”

“We’ve got a lot of connections through racing, which is why I think it’s such a big event for our family. Being connected with the club through being a Lafferty and being a trainer, we’ve made so many great connections especially with the Ryan family. We all share the stables with Simon Ryan with our race horses.

“I’d like to thank Des Roberts (from the racing club) who put my name forward. I’ve got a lot of support from the community and family friends who say it’s such a fitting role for me.” 

Laura has been riding horses since the age of three and competed in eventing for 10 years.  

Warrnambool Racing Club acting chairman Steven Waterhouse said Laura was chosen for her community involvement and her family links. “He was an amazing trainer,” he said. “We’re paying tribute to Kevin at the carnival this year.”