King hit blow for top hoop
JOCKEY Ash Butler says the pain suffered from his king hit attack last week following his historic win in The Archer at Rockhampton is “100 times worse” than any fall he’s had on the racetrack.
Butler was set upon in a nightclub toilet just hours after the biggest win of his career, which left him with a shattered jaw, but in a blow to the Central Queensland hoop, because it was not a workplace incident, he is not eligible for compensation in the same way he would be if the injury was suffered from a fall.
With doctors ruling him out of any riding for “six to eight weeks,” Butler says he will have to sit back and wait to return before he can earn again.
As the only local jockey in the $440,000 Everest-style slot race, Butler says the king hit attack has overshadowed the historic event.
“I am dirty it took the limelight off The Archer, it was a big thrill being the only local jockey in the race and to win it was a huge highlight,” he said.
“At the end of the day, what’s happened has happened, I have been king hit, big deal. It was by far my best day, I won a Newmarket there last year and that was the highlight but The Archer was well and truly the highlight.”
Hardly able to open his mouth following surgery in Brisbane during the week, Butler faces a long road to recovery.
“With the operation they took teeth out of my mouth and went in from the inside,” he said.
“They put the plate in my jaw which was broken, they have also put some surgical braces on my teeth, which is holding my jaw shut with rubber bands.
“I do have trouble talking a bit because I can’t really use my mouth, I have to use my lips more.
“This is worse than any fall, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”