By Michael Guerin
The interrupted career of one of New Zealand’s most talented horsemen is set to resume later this month.
Outstanding reinsman David Butcher has been sidelined for three months after a horrific kick from a horse he trains left him hospitalized with extensive internal injuries.
He feared at the time the accident could sideline him as long as six months but is looking to return well ahead of schedule.
“I am hoping to be back driving here (Cambridge) on the 25th,” says Butcher.
“I was pretty banged up there for a while and had a tube placed into my bowel but once they doctors removed that last week I was tired for a few days then started to improve quickly.
“I am having physical therapy and then hoping to be back driving at the workouts on the 19th.”
One of the very few current reinsman to have driven the winner of the Inter Dominion Pacing Final as well as the New Zealand and Auckland Cups, Butcher is also only the fourth driver to rein over 2000 winners in New Zealand.
With many big money winners in Australia as well, his charges have earned over $24million.
“I don’t have any big names horses to come back to, like a New Zealand Cup drive, but I already have a few drives in the pipeline and it will just be good to get back.”
Butcher’s injury was his second serious setback in the two last years, having suffered a torn pectoral muscle that robbed him of several months two seasons ago.
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