Eugene Butler

Eugene Butler

Article by Alan Trout

The brother of jockey-cum-trainer Paddy Butler, Eugene Butler rode one winner under National Hunt rules. 

Although he did have rides over jumps in the late 1970s, his only success did not come until November 30, 1981, when 10/1 chance Mr Linnet went ahead at the second flight and ran on well to take the Otterden Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at Folkestone by half a length. The nine-year-old was trained by Paddy Butler, whose stables were at Chittington in East Sussex. Both Eugene and the trainer had ridden Mr Linnet earlier in the season, each achieving one fourth place. 

Eugene’s final ride was on The Totm, a faller at the sixth flight in the Haig Whisky Novices’ Hurdle qualifier at Kempton Park on January 22, 1982.