Racehorse trainer, Gerard Butler

Keeping a racehorse in training is not cheap. But it can be extremely rewarding, in every sense.

My job is to ensure that our patrons get full value for money. I know that they have many alternatives out there - trainers of ambition, trainers of achievement. When I invite someone to invest in Churn Stables, I know that we must promise and produce a service that stands comparison with the very best.

Like everyone else, our team wants to get to the top. We have the necessary self-belief. We have the facilities, and we have the experience. All we need is the luck - luck on the track, naturally, but above all the good fortune to find supporters who share our own passions and aspirations.

My time with D Wayne Lukas taught me that there is only one way you can hope to find that kind of luck. And that is to leave nothing to chance.

Wayne expresses his idea of commitment in typical fashion. "Think of it like a ham-and-egg breakfast," he says. "The chicken has an involvement. The pig made a commitment!"

He showed me that talent alone is not enough. I was taught about training from some of the masters of the profession, and I will never cease trying to improve. But above all I guarantee total commitment. By inspiration and perspiration, we will do our utmost to get the very best out of every horse that comes here.

Gerard Butler

Introducing Gerard Butler

Working for three of the most respected trainers in the world, Gerard Butler amassed a wealth of experience over the ten years before launching his own training career. From the meticulous attention to detail of D.Wayne Lukas, to the patient approach of John Dunlop, Gerard absorbed it all, taking something away with him each day to store for future use.

Now established at Churn Stables on the Oxfordshire downs, Butler made a rapid start to his solo career, Beauchamp King notching up a Listed win in his first season, topped by Compton Admiral's win in The Eclipse in only his second season training.

In his eighth season now, Gerard is obviously a well known figure on the racing circuit with runners in the big races both at home and abroad carrying the colours of some of the world's leading racehorse owners.

Gerard Butler's background

Born in Ireland, Gerard was surrounded by horses from an early age, riding out for local trainers during his holidays. In 1988 he radically broadened his horizons by spending several months under the tutorlage of Australian training legend Colin Hayes who ensured that his students dealt with a huge range of horses and witnessed an array of training methods, feeding practices, showing and bedding. Returning to his native soil, Gerard then managed one of the barns at the world famous Coolmore Stud, before a stint with John Oxx. Then he was back on his travels to California.

A spell with the late Rodney Rash was followed by three and a half years as Assistant to the great D.Wayne Lukas. Renowned for bringing every one of his horses to the track ready to race for its life, Lukas instilled a work ethic second to none into Gerard and a belief that attention to detail is paramount in all aspects of training.

On leaving America Butler landed the enviable position of Assistant to John Dunlop at the beginning of 1995 and spent the following three seasons learning all that he could from the maestro himself. “You have to work hard, work smart. Never take short cuts. Learn what to do with horses so that you know where they'll be not just next week, but next year and the year after that,” says Gerard of his time with Dunlop, which also encompassed a spell in Dubai when the yard's leading lights wintered in the sun.

"All this experience is in the back of my mind every day. It's reflected in how I go about my day, how I solve problems and approach different horses."

Churn Stables

Churn Stables is a purpose built yard, with two extremely well ventilated and bright 40 box barns. Always dry and airy, the barn is complemented by a huge indoor arena to ensure that the horses are never affected by the weather. Weighing scales, two covered horse walkers and only the best feed and bedding. All surrounded by over 100 acres of grass gallops and a six furlong all weather gallop (this year resurfaced by Stablizer Solutions). These spotless facilities are a fine platform for the bundle of enthusiasm and talent that is Gerard Butler.