Leading up to the 2023 edition of National Caretaker Appreciation Day events taking place the weeks of Aug. 29 – Sept. 14, Standardbred Canada will profile caretakers from across the country in our Faces of Racing series. This feature profiles Landon Campbell.
Landon Campbell, amongst the youngest features on our Faces of Racing series, was born and raised in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
Ask most passion-filled professionals within the industry where their interest in racing began, and usually, a mentor is mentioned. Landon’s father and biggest inspiration, Marc Campbell, started bringing Landon to the track as young as he could remember.
“I’ve been hooked ever since and haven’t stopped going,” said Landon.
The young horseman dedicated himself to the industry early on.
“My parents always showed me what hard work was, they kept pushing me, and they keep doing that,” he explained.
It’s no surprise his favourite part of working as a caretaker is the talented horses themselves. When asked about the toughest part, he couldn’t help but reply with a chuckle, “Probably working with my dad. But, he is the boss.”
One career moment that has stuck with Landon most is the day his father let him train Freddie, his first and favourite Standardbred.
“I was nagging and nagging my dad, then one day he handed me a helmet.”
There was no hesitation when asked about his future plans in the industry: “Driving, training and winning one against my dad.”
Landon is in constant growth mode and wishes others knew how hard caretaking really was.
“...There's a lot more to it than brushing the horse off… success never comes easy.”
Heartfelt advice from this young professional.
Join us in showing our appreciation for the unsung heroes of our industry and celebrate National Caretaker Appreciation Day at one of the 2023 participating racetracks!