The Wellington Branch lost one of its most passionate members with the passing of David Butler recently.
According to Wellington Branch President Alex Kelly, David was a very respected and valued member of the Wellington Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Committee up until quite recently, when his health took a significant turn for the worse.
“David was very passionate about his horses, as well as the racing and breeding industry,” Kelly recalled.
“He was one of the most passionate breeders you could meet and every spring he would so be confident that this year’s crop of his foals would produce his next champion. Unfortunately, they never did.
“Back in the 1980’s after diligently researching her pedigree he bought his first yearling; her name was French Polish and he has been breeding and racing from her progeny ever since.”
French Polish won three races and was group placed three times at two. She went on to leave seven winners including the stakes winners Dollars’N Gold and Madison Point. As well as a stakes placed winner in Que Sera -who left a number of winners herself- and Here’s Hoping who left the group one two-year-old winner Iflooxcouldkill.
A lawyer by profession Butler was a partner in the Lower Hutt law firm Gillespie Young Watson and until his health deteriorated was the legal representative for RACE.
David was a Wellington Racing Club stalwart and had been, RACE’s legal representative.
He was involved in the racing industry for a considerable period of time as a successful administrator and was the immediate past President of the Wellington Club (2012 – 2015) and was a RACE Board Member from 2009 through to 2015.
“David was very popular in the industry, and this was reflected by the large attendance at his funeral and some glowing tributes by eight of his family and friends, including Sir Bob Jones,” according to Kelly.
“In fact, I think Sir Bob said that David was the funniest guy he had ever met. We will certainly miss his passion on the Wellington Branch.”
David is survived by his wife Joy, daughter Holly and his grandchildren Rio and Ziggy.
