The Royal Couple of Manitoba Racing

Longevity, loyalty and a deep devotion to their thoroughbreds have made Jarvis and Florence Swereda one of the most likeable, popular couples in racing in Winnipeg. Jarvis Swereda prides himself on longevity. His marriage to Florence is going on 53 years. Starfield Auto Body, the Winnipeg business he started in the early 1970s, is still going strong and he’s been breeding and racing thoroughbreds in Manitoba for some 35 years now. “I’m crazy, not persistent,” Swereda said, laughing. Particularly about horses. “They’re our kids,” he said. The couple does not have children of their own, so asking the 72-year-old to pick a favourite is the same as asking a parent to pick a favourite child. Still, it doesn’t take long to realize Swereda has a soft spot for Queen Tina, the 2008 Horse of the Year in Manitoba. “Queen Tina was my first horse that won Horse of the Year…