Anthony Butt after driving Mah Sish - trained by brother Tim - to victory in the 2013 Hunter Cup.
Champion reinsman Anthony Butt has relocated to Victoria.
The seven-time Hunter Cup and eight-time Dominion Handicap winning driver – who is also a member of the Inter Dominion Hall of Fame – has become the leading driver for trainer Brent Lilley and will freelance for other stables.
Having such a quality horseman as Butt move to Victoria is yet another exciting announcement for harness racing in this state, the 48-year-old widely considered one of the best reinsmen in the world with three Inter Dominion Trotting Grand Final wins to his name and a pacers’ Inter final win in 2009.
Butt's announcement comes after the news Nicole Molander, trainer of Keystone Del, has purchased a property in Victoria and will relocate here full-time from December 20 and James Rattray, trainer of Beautide, will stable all his horses in Victoria over the summer.
“It’s been in the pipeline for a while now but the time is right,” Butt said.
“The clincher was being able to drive for Brent Lilley. And from there hopefully I’ll be able to pick up some other drives as well. The important thing when making a move like this though is to have a good base.”
Butt is no stranger to Australian harness racing having driven 608 wins on our shores since season 1987-88.
“It’s exciting,” Butt said of the new chapter.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.
“Everywhere you go is a different racing style. In New Zealand they race very different in the North Island compared to the South Island and in Australia they race differently in all the states. But I’ve always been able to adapt pretty well.
“It’ll take me three or four weeks to get my head around the form of the lesser races. It’s easier to know the form from the bigger races because you’ve watched those closely.”
Butt said the looming summer was a great time in Victorian harness racing and added he was especially excited about the new Summer of Glory carnival taking in the Victoria and Hunter Cups on January 31 and February 7.
“It’s an exciting time. The whole summer is exciting really,” he said.
“There is a lot of good racing.
“Lets Elope (which won the Gunbower Cup yesterday with Butt aboard) looks as though the Hunter Cup might suit him. He’s an up-and-comer and he’s good from the stand, so it ticks a couple of boxes.”
Butt will live in Melton.
