Landon Campbell is making a name for himself outside of his accomplished dad’s shadow

by Chris Lomon

Although he’d be the first to say he’s not a one-man show, star-on-the-rise Landon Campbell is making a name for himself in the world of harness racing.

Born and raised in Charlottetown, PEI, the young horseman — who turned 18 earlier this month — has already built a strong reputation and resume well beyond his home base in Eastern Canada. He was recently announced as one of three finalists for the O’Brien Award Future Star Award.

Big numbers and great success have not come with an ego to match for the son of accomplished driver and trainer Marc Campbell.

“I have learned that you can do anything if you put the work in,” Landon said. “If you don’t put that work in, you won’t succeed. That is something dad always told me the moment I started working with horses. He would tell me that if I wasn’t willing to put in the work required with horses, then this isn’t for you. But if I was committed to putting in the work, I would be successful.”

It turns out that father really does know best.

After two starts to his name in his rookie campaign of 2023, the younger Campbell, who first started out as a caretaker, won 40 races and recorded 118 top three finishes from 209 starts in 2024.

His first win came with Plain Jane, a daughter of Shadow Play out of the Pearl River Matt mare Ruthie Jane, on May 23 of that year, with his father in the race bike.

At the 2024 Prince Edward Island Standardbred Horse Owners Association Awards, Landon was feted as Junior Trainer of the Year, the same night Marc was recognized as Leading Percentage Driver and Leading Dash-Winning Driver.

On the heels of a successful season, which included $195,852 in purse earnings, Landon did anything but rest on his laurels.

Instead, he committed himself to raising the bar across the board in 2025.

With less than two weeks before the calendar turns to the new year, he went far beyond what he had set out to do.

“If you don’t have goals, you aren’t going to go anywhere,” Landon said. “I set goals every day and whenever I hit that one, I move on to the next one.”

Landon is grateful to have his father along for the drive – literally and figuratively.

“With dad being the driver 90 per cent of the time, I take his advice,” Landon said. “We’re a team.”

One that can, at times, have its disagreements.

“We think so much alike, so we can bump heads,” Landon said. “I respect him as a father – he’s done a lot for me. I want to be successful and give a lot back to him.”

And then there are the horses.

One in particular comes to mind quickly.

“Freddie is the first horse I ever trained,” Landon said. “I was just wandering around the barn — at Dr. Ian Moore’s old place — helping out one day, and my dad threw me a helmet and a stopwatch and said, ‘Let’s rock.’ Freddie and I went out and we trained. He really started teaching me so much from that day on. [Owner] Freddie MacDonald eventually gave me the horse, and I really started working with him. When you own a horse, you really do fall in love with them.”

The bond between the now 13-year-old son of Majestic Son and Landon has only grown stronger over time.

“He’s getting older, but I enjoy working with him and he’s taught me so many different things,” he said. “I just bonded with him immediately. From his first time racing here – I loved him. And when he stopped racing, he was going to have a home with me forever.”

It turns out Freddie, who trotted his way to 83 wins over 219 career starts, is also a willing student.

When Landon had the idea of adding shoeing to his skill set, he turned to his trusted horse for help.

“Every couple of months when Freddie’s toes get a little long, I will work on them,” Landon said. “Every time I do, I get a little more comfortable and better at it. A few days ago, dad put the hind shoes on him, and I put front shoes on him.”

And while Freddie might hold status as his favorite, each horse under Landon’s tutelage is afforded the same level of care.

Whether odds on the tote board show 20-1 or 2-5 on race night is of no concern to the trainer.

“I don’t care what the odds say,” he said. “As long as the horse races well, we are happy. Horses aren’t race cars where they can do the same thing every time. You take what the horse is telling you, no matter what.”

They have an unabashed cheerleader in Landon.

“I am a little bit of everything when I watch them race,” he said. “My sister falls in love with the horses very easily and so do I. Every horse we have, I care about each one.”

Which is why the most cherished part of his career is hardly a surprise.

“Just working with horses every day,” he said. “Each one is different. You get to see different personalities, quirks, but most importantly, you learn something from them.”

As for what is next on his to-do list, Landon, who enjoys spending time with his girlfriend outside of the hectic pace of the harness racing world, is currently focusing on becoming a dual-threat horseman.

“In the shorter term, I want to get my driver’s license,” he said. “I would like to have that before the winter is over.”

One of his longer-term goals is to line up behind the starter car and see a familiar face, someone who is equally intent on claiming top prize.

“In the long term, I would like to beat my father in a race, which will be very hard to do,” he said with a chuckle.

Landon’s biggest objective, however, regardless of present or future, is crystal clear.

“I think, most importantly, it is all about being the best I can be,” he said. “That is what I push myself to be every day. And I know that is something that will never change.”