It is with great sadness that Racing Victoria acknowledges the passing yesterday of Cranbourne trainer Karen Walker.
Walker, 66, was issued a trainers’ licence in Victoria in 2005 and has continued training ever since while also working full time at Ingham in Clyde for over 30 years.
Karen began her career in the industry as a stablehand, strapping her favourite horse Sandsequin for trainer and father Des Walker in the 1971 Melbourne Cup at aged 17.
Karen’s daughter Dani is also one of the leading jockeys on the picnic circuit with the Walker family breeding and training horses for close to 50 years.
Her biggest success as a trainer came courtesy of Secret Sequin in 2016 at Sandown, which was her first city winner.
Karen also had great success on the picnic circuit with Catino Belle in 2008/09 and Fontainette in 2012/13.
RV Chief Executive, Giles Thompson, said: “On behalf of the Victorian racing industry, I would like to extend our prayers and heartfelt condolences to Karen’s family and friends following the sad news of her passing yesterday.
“Karen comes from a great racing family and was a popular member of the Cranbourne racing community and will be remembered as vibrant, kind and hardworking by those that knew her best.”