Driver Shane Butterworth claims 500th win of his career after victory in Christmas meeting at Albany
Katanning reinsman Shane Butterworth reached a major individual milestone, as he drove his 500th winner last Friday.
Sitting on 499 career wins heading into the daylight Christmas meeting at Albany Harness Racing Club, Butterworth finished second with Kolisi in race two beaten only 1.4m.
He ran second again in race three, this time behind Kissed By A Rose, but he cracked the major mark in race four when Alta Camino was a dominant winner of the Albany Signs 4YO+ Pace (2265m).
The four-year jumped well from gate five and led at the bell lap before proving too strong in the concluding stages.
Butterworth saluted with Alta Camino at $17 for trainer Brendon Gardiner as they beat $2.40 favourite Nullarbor Navajo by 9.1m.
The result handed Butterwoth his 500th winner in the sulky at a venue he’s tasted plenty of success at.
The $10,250 Lion Brewery Christmas Cup (2265m) was won by $2.20 favourite Allwood Glow, who speared home in the sprint lane to win by 5.8m at Harold Reid Paceway.
Trained by Cody Wallrodt and driven by Kyle Symington, Allwood Glow made it two wins in his past five starts after reeling in the leader Adda Tarantella in the home straight.
Adda Tarantella ran second for trainer Charlie Draper while Wallrodt’s Palatino filled third place.
Symington enjoyed a terrific day in Albany, finishing with a winning treble.
He drove two-year-old Trunkey Fetch to victory in the opening race for visiting trainer John Graham.
In the final race Symington teamed up with local trainer Nathan Dymock to score a win with outsider Whitney Whitby.
Dymock finished with a winning double at the eight-race card, with Summer Moon also on the winners list.
Both won a big odds, Whitney Whitby paying $31 in race eight while in race seven Summer Moon saluted at $10.
Graham also chalked up two winners on the program after Rocknroll Me claimed race two with Colin Brown in the sulky.
Albany’s next meeting is on Saturday, January 8.
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