Oliver Butters

Article by Alan Trout

Oliver Dawson Butters rode for three seasons on the Flat in the first decade of the 20th century and had one winner during that time. 

He was apprenticed to his father, Joseph Butters (1847-1933) who, after many years riding and training successfully in Europe, had recently returned to England and was seeking to establish himself here, based at Kremlin House, Newmarket. 

Oliver’s first ride in public was at Yarmouth on September 20, 1905, when his mount Narrateur finished fourth of the nine runners in the Hastings Nursery Handicap won by ‘Skeets’ Martin on 4-1 joint-favourite Gold Coin. Narrateur had won the Lincoln Plate at the opening meeting of the season when ridden by Bill Halsey but that had been his only success. 

Oliver had to wait until May 28, 1907 for the only win of his career. That came at York when 7-2 chance FitzDonovan, owned and trained by Joseph Butters, won the Apprentice Handicap by a length. According to The Sportsman, a contemporary publication of the Sporting Life, FitzDonovan did not give Oliver a pleasant ride, giving a series of buck jumps on the way to the start, but he came back smoothly enough. 

That was one of only half a dozen rides Oliver had that year. His final mount was an unplaced effort on Siegfrida in the Two-Year-Old Selling Plate at Newmarket on October 18, 1907, a race won by Frank Bullock on Well Matched.

Oliver’s brothers Frank and Frederick both became successful trainers.