TORONTO, January 16, 2026— When she isn’t in the irons, jockey Cheyenne Kerr enjoys testing her mettle in the world of welding art. They are two vastly different worlds – one holding the reins of a thousand-pound Thoroughbred, the other a creative outlet she discovered during her high school days in southeastern Ontario. But for the 23-year-old Kerr, born and raised in Napanee – a town of roughly 17,500 people located at the eastern end of the Bay of Quinte – each plays an integral role in her life and her identity. Early in her high school years, Kerr began giving more thought to finding an activity outside the traditional classroom setting that would resonate with her. Admittedly shy, she knew one area she could quickly scratch off her list. “When I got to high school, I was a pretty quiet kid and I wasn’t into sports, so I looked for something else.” Her search eventually brought her to the mechanics lab. “I hung out there a lot. In grade 9 or 10, you can do an intro to mechanics. And you can also do a little bit of welding. The mechanics teacher told me, ‘You are in the wrong class. You should be in a welding class.’ So, I was not a good mechanic and switched to welding.” It turned out to be a life-changing move. Kerr was immediately enthralled by the world of welding metal art, transforming raw metal into unique, eye-catching creations. Cheyenne Kerr welding “I couldn’t draw very well but building things brought something out in me. It really opened my eyes up to welding and how much I enjoyed it. I think within the first few days of trying it – the artistic side of it really appealed to me. In grades 11 and 12, I went to a skills competition and won it in grade 11.” She carried her passion for welding art into her post-secondary education. By the time she left to pursue a career in horse racing, Kerr had left a lasting impression on the school through her work. “I went to Loyalist College and there are a couple of things I created that are still on display. They use those pieces as demonstrations of work for students who are working on their projects. At the end of the semester, you are given a set of blueprints, and you have to make the project to pass that semester “It feels so good to know that you have done something that people want others to look at. I feel good that I was good enough at something that it was put on display.” One of the pieces is a common type of furniture – with a unique twist. One of Cheyenne Kerr’s welding creations “It’s a square table, but there is no glass piece on it. It took me about three weeks to make. There is a look to it that is almost three-dimensional. It’s pretty cool to look at because it is off-centre a little bit – it really is something that is so tough to describe. It’s a different way to look at something.” Which is how Kerr approaches any of her artistic undertakings. “There are so many different things you can build with the different welds – it’s a unique way to look at things. You can have the same set of blueprints, but the end result is going to be a different interpretation. And you end up being in your own little bubble. I have a set of headphones on with my music, and I just zone right out. It’s kind of nice. It’s kind of nice.” When she welds, Kerr sports a far different look than the colourful silks she wears throughout the racing season. There are, however, a couple of similar pieces of equipment she fashions. “Normally, you wear work pants and then you can wear a welding jacket – I usually wear an old sweater because you burn a lot of holes through it because of the splatter – and then put on your welding shield with goggles underneath. The lights are so bright that they can blind you. There is always that element of safety.” Something that Kerr understood the moment she galloped her first horse. Her first win came on her 20th birthday in a Quarter Horse race at Ajax Downs on June 8, 2022. Her first Thoroughbred victory followed on October 12, 2023, when she guided Fedaline, a bay daughter of Fed Biz, to a 1¼-length win over 6½ furlongs on the Woodbine main track. After winning 11 races at Woodbine and Fort Erie from 93 starts in 2024, Kerr posted a career-best 16 wins in 2025. She capped off her campaign with a victory aboard Genius of Love, bred and owned by Frank Di Giulio Jr. and trained by Hall of Famer Robert Tiller. The one-length win came at 6½ furlongs on the Woodbine main track on December 6. Genius of Love and jockey Cheyenne Kerr winning Race 1 on December 6, 2025 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) “My dad was there that day, so it made it even more special,” said Kerr. Currently, Kerr is in Florida, galloping for trainer Brendan Walsh. “My goal would be to ride some more winners than 2025 and keep on getting better every day. I learned that when things got slow, I continued to work hard and stay determined. I was proud of myself for that, not being discouraged, but pushing forward.” Just as she did during those high school days when she set out to find a hobby to call her own. While finding time for welding has become more challenging in recent years, Kerr hasn’t left that part of her life behind. “I made my dad a set of roses and little figures out of washers, screws and other things. I folded the metal into these little petals and wove them all together to make a bouquet – it took a long time, but it turned out great. “If I go home to see my dad, that is the prime time for me to weld. When I’m back riding, it’s not the easiest thing to do. I would like to get my own little machine so that I have something to do with my off time.” As for her next artistic project, Kerr hopes to merge her two greatest passions. “I would like to weld a horse, something I would create with scrap that I picked out. I think that would be a unique piece.” Chris Lomon, Woodbine Share This:Share
