The six-year-old debutant’s priced at $21 in tonight’s Ararat opener and on the ease, but it’s about much more than just winning for The Butcher’s trainer-driver Bernie Poulton, who can’t wait to settle back into the sulky and honour a mate.
For the first time since Jollie Jeparit’s fifth placing at a Horsham mid-week meeting on February 21, 2007, Poulton will take the reins in a race tonight when The Butcher steps out from gate eight in the Ararat HRC Members Pace at 6.33pm.
“It’s the thrill of racing, I just really like it,” Poulton, 69, said. “I can’t get that out of the system.”
From 1994-95 to 2006-07 he had 201 starts as a trainer for 11 wins and 185 starts as a driver for six wins, having “always had a couple going around”.
Among the best of them was Miss Rainmaker, a six-time winner who he co-owned with friend Eric Hahne, a local butcher of 50 years.
“(Eric) loved his horses. He was always in them with me and never missed a night at the trots.”
Mr Hahne sadly passed two years ago and Poulton shares ownership of The Butcher with his late mate’s three daughters, Tanya Hahne, Belinda Lees and Danielle Meenks.
Tonight's debutant is by Denver Gift and out of Miss Rainmaker, who was “one of Eric’s favourites”, and Poulton said he “always wanted to get (The Butcher) to the races for Eric”, but that would prove a challenge.
“(The Butcher) was pretty bloody cranky early on. Six months ago he was still silly as a wheel, but I changed his feed and a few things and he’s seemed to turned the corner. He still has a way to go, but I just want him to get out there and get around safely.”
And the same goes for Poulton himself, who will have his first race drive in 12 years and plans a rails run from gate eight.
“I’ve been up in helicopters, crop dusting, done a lot of things, but I still love to sit in a sulky.”
Michael Howard
Trots Media