Being born into a racing family and a childhood spent on show ponies ultimately led this young woman to the Godolphin Flying Start program and from there to a great job as sales and marketing manager with a leading thoroughbred stud.
This week we find out more about Katelyn Butler, Sales and Marketing Manager at Twin Hills Stud.
1/ Where are you from, and what got you in involved in the thoroughbred industry?
Born and raised just outside of Melbourne. I was fortunate to be born into a racing family with my parents being owner/breeders. My grandpa was also an owner/breeder and had success in racing with horses such as Pago Pago Stakes winner/sire Yachtie and G1 performer Stickpin.
While I grew up competing in showing and dressage, in my mid-teens I switched over to working in a racing stable. Upon graduating from La Trobe after completing a Bachelor Of Business, I received a call to join a local stud farm in what would become the role of Stud Coordinator. It was in this position I discovered the breeding industry was what I was really passionate about.
2/ What does a workday in the life of Katelyn Butler look like?
It varies from day to day and also depends on which half of the year we are in… At the moment we are busy with the sales season. While some days I try to start the day at 6.30am and be more hands on by doing a feed run or helping with the current sales draft, I am in the office by 8am where I start by catching up on the latest news/results, updating the website and following up on emails I’ve received overnight.
With such short breaks between each sale, we are currently organising everything needed for the next sale – photo day, video day, sales material, signage, update videos, Thoroughworks, etc.
You’ll also find me out and about going around the farm photographing foals or filming video updates. We try to keep up to date with our standard owner communication with regular photo and video updates of the foals, weanlings, spellers and dry mares that are on farm. And shortly we will soon be starting to put things together for the breeding season.
3/ Who is your favourite horse and why?
Lonhro was the first horse I was a true fan of. I had a poster of “The Black Flash” on my wall for years and loved cheering him home. His Australian Cup win was incredible and I was devastated when he wasn’t able to bow out a winner.
Many years later I was very lucky to have the opportunity to work with him for a few weeks during my time at Darley Kelvinside (as a part of the Godolphin Flying Start course).
4/ Tell us about the best day you had at the races or at the sales, and what made it memorable for you?
My family bred and sold a colt at Melbourne Premier 2020 for a terrific result for us ($220,000 to HK). It was made even more special considering he was one of just 2 foals we had bred that year.
Hard to pick my best day at the races. In the two years that I was on the GFS course, I was incredibly fortunate to attend Enable’s 1st Arc win, Justify’s Kentucky Derby (Triple Crown), Godolphin’s Melbourne Cup win with Cross Counter, Thunder Snow’s 2nd Dubai World Cup and Winx’s 4th Cox Plate. Each an amazing racing moment in its own right.
5/ What is your favourite show on Netflix or TV?
Currently it is Yellowstone. But I love to binge a good legal or medical drama.
6/ Now that travel has opened again where is the first place you will go?
I have always wanted to attend the Breeders Cup meeting in the US.
7/ What is your favourite cuisine and restaurant?
Italian or Sushi.
8/ Name two things on your bucket list?
An obvious dream but I want to breed/own a Group 1 winner.
Become fluent in another language.
9/ What’s the best advice someone has ever given you?
At 4am trackwork, I was slouching/leaning against the tower at Randwick when my boss, scolded me for not standing correctly.
While this seemed slightly excessive at the time, the message has stayed with me over the last 5 years. It was along the lines of… you are a young woman in a male dominated industry – stand up straight, don’t slouch, don’t cross your arms, etc … How you present yourself matters, even when you think no one will notice.
10/ Tell us one thing that not many people may know about you?
I accidently swam with a shark off the Great Barrier Reef in 2021 and caught it on video.
