Butt is Triangle-bound ahead of Trot Rods decider

By Jordan Gerrans

Internationally renowned driver Anthony Butt well and truly knows his way around Redcliffe’s ‘Triangle’ track and he is keen to get back to the venue for the deciding program of Trot Rods for 2024.

The 58-year-old reinsman will battle it out against four local drivers on Wednesday evening of next week for the finale night of the popular 947 metre sprint series.

The fast and furious concept has attracted big name interstate drivers in recent years – including Cam Hart and James Herbertson - and Butt will be the latest to feature in Trot Rods.

Kiwi Butt is a regular through the winter months in the Sunshine State in recent years campaigning through the Queensland Constellations.

The multiple Grand Circuit-winning driver has won two Redcliffe Derby’s over the last decade with Make Way firstly before Krug won the prize in 2021 in dominant fashion.

“It has always been a good hunting ground for me,” Butt said of Redcliffe. 

After running heats over the last month, the 2024 series culminates in a finale night on Wednesday May 29, with 10 Trot Rods races to be showcased on a dedicated SKY 2 broadcast. 

Butt will be pitted against record-breaking local reinsman Nathan Dawson as well as three other Queensland-based drivers who were voted into the show-piece end of the series.

Emerging youngster Nathan Rothwell was selected by harness fans in the ‘Young Gun’ category while Brendan Barnes and Leonard Cain were selected amongst the established drivers.

Rothwell accumulated almost 37 per cent of the fan vote in the up-and-coming category to fend off teenage youngster Layne Dwyer.

Cain racked up more than 60 per cent of the vote against the fellow established drivers to command his position while Barnes received a tick over 18 per cent of the public’s vote.

With a public vote for the drivers to be involved in the finale and many other new innovations, Butt says it is a series that he is looking forward to being involved with.

“It is exciting with the new camera angles and the mic’d up drivers, that is all innovation,” he said.

“It makes for an exciting night and something different.

“I think we need to embrace new things like this.

“With the 10 races on the night all over the lap, it will be exciting.”

Veteran mare Artful Maid is the leader in the Trot Rods clubhouse so far with a time of 64.59 seconds.

The ninth and tenth heats of 2024 are set to be contested at Redcliffe on Wednesday evening.

The fastest time ever recorded in Trot Rods came back in 2022 when Just Dessy scorched the track in 63.46 seconds.

Butt calls Melton home these days but is a regular in Queensland through the winter.

Butt’s brother Tim – a champion trainer in his own right – has relocated to the Sunshine State on a permanent basis in recent years and prepares a team of standardbred’s and thoroughbreds alongside his son Riley.

The Butts have tasted the ultimate success in the state over the decades.

Take A Moment and Mr Feelgood handed the famous racing clan Inter Dominion titles in Queensland.

In more recent years, Anthony has enjoyed Constellations success with horses such as American Dealer, Copy That and Tough Monarch, among others.

“I have always had a bit of luck at Redcliffe over the years and it will be something a bit different driving in this series,” the champion reinsman said.

Click here for more information on Trot Rods.