Joel Butterfield.
Twenty year old reinsman Joel Butterfield will never forget Friday August 22nd 2014. It was the date he drove the first winner of his career when despised outsider Soloman Vandy won race eight and then had to endure a protest hearing when the fourth horse lodged an objection.
"It was a bit of a surprise but it is something that I will never forget," Butterfield said.
"I didn't think he could win when we went down the back straight because he wasn't doing much but he kept on sticking his neck out and in the end he surprised everyone, it was an unreal feeling when we crossed the line."
Butterfield has only been driving since December last year and has had about ten drives in his short career.
"I work fulltime as an internal sales rep for a timber wholesaler and the hours are long plus I live a long way away from work, I start at seven and finish at about five but I still find time to train a couple of my own and I also give Bevan Pringle a hand when I can."
"I've been strapping horses for my Pop since I was fourteen and I use to give Paul Bourke a bit of a hand after school when I got the chance, I am always willing to watch and try to learn as much as I can from everyone."
While Butterfield enjoys his participation in the sport he is hoping he can take it to another level at some stage in the future.
"I'd love to do it professionally somewhere down the track but at the moment I'm enjoying training my two."
"Cobla Stuie is no world beater but he ran third for me the other week behind Minnie Min Min and I've had about six race drives on him, my other horse is a three year old.
It was Soloman Vandy's first victory since winning at Newcastle on March 7.
