Ian Mutton was a man who loved horses, loved a chat and loved a good joke, so when the talented horseman died in 2017 is was a loss felt across the harness racing industry.
But such was the personality of the man who Bathurst Harness Racing Club vice president Laurie Clifford calls the ‘mighty Mutto’, his memory is now honoured each year.
This Wednesday night at the Bathurst Paceway the Ian Mutton Memorial (1,730 metres) will be staged as part of a special race meeting.
The meeting features seven memorial races all up as the Bathurst club pays tribute to Mutton, John Clayton, Keith Colley, Kevin Doherty, BJ Turnbull, Harold Lonard plus Norm, Garth and Audrey Harkham.
The Mutton family and their friends will be travelling from far and wide to attend, while there will be plenty of others track side who have fond memories of the The Lagoon legend as well.
“Ian had a lifetime association with horses in many forms, from playing polo cross with his father and brother to a lifelong passion for harness racing. Ian wore many hats in his long career as a committee man, trainer, driver, owner, breeder and mentor to young up and coming participants,” Clifford explained.
“He had a great relationship with the horse King Frost and his owners Norm and Audrey Harkham. They had many a tussle with the mighty Paleface Adios and Hondo Grattan.
“Ian, along with his hard working wife Barbara, had many successes with a number of horses that passed through their stables both at The Lagoon and Brook Lodge at Gormans Hill, Bathurst.
“Some of their best performers being Another Country, Green Tree Helen, Bullion Bandit and Toltec in earlier years and over the past few decades, He Can, Garconnet, ZinZan Brook, Spooky Leigh, Money Chimes and his final winner as a trainer in December 2016, Captain Brook.
“Ian was also a great mentor to young up and coming participants, with many young men and women spending time at Brook Lodge learning the ropes.
“Ian was well known for his sense of humour and is sadly missed by many who enjoyed having a chat or seeking advice to improve the performance of their horses.”
In terms of an emotional favourite for Wednesday’s Ian Mutton Memorial, there is no doubt that status belongs to a five-year-old mare called Josephine Brook. She is still owned by the Muttons.
She is trained by Robert Clifford, a man who benefited from Mutton’s knowledge, and will be driven by one of the late horseman’s good friends in Tony Higgs.
The Roll With Joe x Kassandra Brook mare will go from barrier two in what will be her 25th start at the Bathurst Paceway.
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“Josie, as she affectionately known around the stables, was also bred by Ian and Barbara at their Brook Lodge Stables at Gormans Hill,” Laurie Clifford said.
“Robert Clifford, who joined Ian and Barb at their Brook Lodge stables 24 years ago as a keen 15-year-old teenager, is hoping for success as Josephine Brook has shown consistent form over the past two seasons with 10 placing from 16 starts.
“With a little help from above, Josephine Brook may just salute in the sixth and do Mutto proud.”
The first race Wednesday night’s meeting will go at 5.54pm.