Benjamin Butcher cleared of major injury after shocking fall

The usual thrill of Friday night winners at Alexandra Park was dulled by a shocking fall that ultimately could have been so much worse.

Popular harness racing driver Benjamin Butcher was the worst hurt in the pile up soon after the start of Race 5 but reports late on Friday night suggested he had been cleared of any major injury.

“Ben has been taken to a hospital and we are getting updates and it sounds like an ultra sound has come back clear or at least not too serious,” said brother and driving star Zachary Butcher.

“He had a sore shoulder and it sounded like maybe a sore pectorial muscle but the most important thing he was conscious at the track because he was out for a while after it happened.

“It shook everybody up and we will know more in the morning but it could have obviously been a lot worse.”

The accident happened as Benjamin driving Iron Heart on debut was, ironically, racing Zachary (driving I’m Sandra Dee) for the lead in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Sires’ Stakes Heat for two-year-old fillies.

Iron Heart looked to be winning that early battle but skipped then galloped and her sulky was collected by her trailing through stablemate Always B Misty (Josh Dickie).

That catapulted Butcher into the air and he landed heavily on his shoulder and looked to be knocked out, while Dickie was also thrown to the track but remarkably his fall was cushioned on the way down as he landed on top of rival driver Jonny Cox, driving favourite Music Mistress directly to his inside.

The race was abandoned by stewards after 400m and not re-run.

Dickie was able to walk back to the stables but stood himself down from driving for the rest of the night and of the three horses affected, all for Team
Telfer, none were seriously hurt, with Iron Heart having the worst lacerations.

The incident overshadowed every thing else on the night but there were still impressive winners before and after.

Three-year-old Better Knuckle Up suggested he is in for a good campaign when downing stablemate Artisan in a sprint home, the latter in her last race before retiring to stud.

Lord Popinjay was a brave winner of the main trot while earlier Sean McCaffrey quinellaed the two-year-old trot as Ya Eejit Ya looked a real pro in the hands of Emily Johnson when leading throughout to down Hillbilly.

Seaclusion continued her recent improved form when she wore down Hawkeye Pierce in a strong Metro Series heat.

** HRNZ will endeavour to supply an update on Butcher’s condition over the weekend.

For complete race results, click here.

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand