Racing: Crazy scene as race degenerates into free-for-all

Driver Philip Butcher was abused and could face charges after a sensational New Zealand Free-For-All at Addington yesterday.

Butcher, driving Awesome Armbro, outraged Auckland Reactor's trainer-driver Mark Purdon for the manner in which he drove in the $250,000 sprint, won by Monkey King.

Butcher attacked Auckland Reactor for the lead soon after the start and kept Awesome Armbro almost level with the hot favourite throughout, running times which left both pacers struggling at the finish.

After the race a furious Purdon verbally abused Butcher and he was not alone.

"I have never been so abused in my life," said Butcher. "It got very, very heated."

Butcher left the track immediately after the race to catch a flight to Auckland to drive at Alexandra Park last night so could not answer to stewards.

But chief stipendiary steward Neil Escott said an inquiry was opened into the drive and whether Butcher had given Awesome Armbro every chance to win the race.

"Mr Butcher is likely to face charges relating to the drive," said Escott. "I was not impressed by what I saw."

The general feeling was Butcher had driven aggressively to negate the chances of Auckland Reactor, possibly promoting the cause of Awesome Armbro's stablemate Changeover, who battled into third.

That was how Purdon saw the race.

"It is disappointing to come to the track and lose a race like that," he said.

"I was furious straight after the race but I have calmed down a bit now. The worst thing is even if Philip was driving to instructions he could be the one who gets in trouble."

Butcher defended the drive last night, saying the leading pair were not going as fast as it looked.

"What made it look bad is Auckland Reactor has gone no good compared with Tuesday," said Butcher.

"I was outside him with Zenad on Tuesday and he was going so fast I couldn't get near him.

"But yesterday we were going a lot slower. These good horses should be able to run those sectionals but they both went average."

While the overall times suggest that could be right, the drive and even the whiff of team-driving outraged some at the track and drew a swift response from harness racing bosses.

Some rival trainers surprisingly defended the drive, saying Auckland Reactor was open to attack like any other horse. Others called it a disgrace.

Lost in the crazy scenes after the race was the performance of Monkey King, who was superb in completing the Cup-Free-For-All double and now heads to the Miracle Mile as a serious chance.

Unfortunately, that is not what yesterday's race will be remembered for.