Off to the Races - Horse Racing Alberta

G6
Lianne
Knechtel
Thoroughbred Trainer
Certified Groom Training Program Architect
Lianne Knechtel is another ‘racetracker’ who has done just about
everything in the sport over the years. She has ridden the bush circuits
in western Canada and in the United States for a couple of seasons, run
the camera on the “B” circuit, managed a tack store and worked for the
quarterhorse racing association. “I’ve done charting, I’ve been a steward,
I’ve done everything,” Lianne admits. For the last 13 years, however, she’s
been a trainer, and she’s had some good horses during that time.
Besides her work at the racetrack, Lianne has made a major contribution
to improving the welfare of others in the backstretch by developing a
groom school, run in partnership with the racetracks, Olds College, and
Horse Racing Alberta. “That program has turned out about two dozen
backstretch workers in its first two years. And I think we’re full again
for 2005,” she says.
Lianne is a leading advocate of computer literacy courses for backstretch
workers and she is also pleased the first daycare support program for
backstretch workers is now in place. “We need these kinds of programs
to recruit and keep good backstretch help,” she says. “Fortunately, our
programs are starting to address these issues.”
Lianne Knechtel
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