Harness racing was always the only choice for multi-generational horseman Tyler Buter

by Murray Brown

Tyler Buter is quite certain that he is at the very least a fourth-generation horseman, on each side of his family tree, no less.

Was there ever any doubt that his place in life would be anywhere other than in harness racing?

“Not a bit,” answered the native of Michigan, by way of Illinois and now a resident of Pennsylvania. “I’ve never done, or wanted to do, anything else.”

Buter has called the small town of Milford, PA home for the last four years. It serves as the geographic centerpiece of his driving career which mostly involves competing on a regular basis at Pocono Downs and Yonkers Raceway.

Occasionally, the Grand Circuit beckons. When it does, Buter is only too happy to make the trek to a venue such as he did last week to Hoosier Park where he guided Dandy Ideal to victory in the $300,000 Grade 1 Dan Patch Invitational.

On a regular basis though, Pocono Downs is the one which he refers to as his home track.

It is there where last season he led all drivers and is in the direction of where he appears to be headed this season.

You are the regular driver at Pocono Downs for, among others, the number one racing stable in the world, that of Ron Burke. In addition to being the teamster for the Burke Brigade, you also drive regularly for newly-elected Hall of Famer Ake Svanstedt, Ray Schnittker, Hunter Oakes, Per Engblom, John Butenschoen, George Ducharme, Nifty Norman, Nick DeVita, Fred Grant, and others.

“It needs to be said that I’ve been a very lucky guy. I consider myself to be very fortunate. I am very thankful to the Michigan people such as my dad Todd Buter, Rob Harmon, Mike Sweeney, Mike Watson, and others for having the trust in me when I first started. Without them, my career would not be where it is today.”

Do you now consider yourself to be a full-time driver?

“Yes. I began focusing on catch driving a few years ago and found this to be most satisfying. With the busy schedules between Pocono and Yonkers and with occasional forays to The Meadowlands, I wouldn’t have near enough time to do justice to training a race stable. I’m now 40 years old. I feel as though I probably have 10 or so more productive racing years. After that I might consider spending my winters in Florida; maybe riding in the mornings, sitting behind babies for a stable, and then having time to play golf in the afternoons.”

As you well know, when you are driving horses for a living, nothing is certain. Weren’t you involved in a pretty serious wreck at Yonkers a few years ago?

“It was pretty bad. But the time away from racing made me realize how much I loved the sport and how much I missed it. Even though I had a broken back, a broken collar bone, and several broken ribs, it could have been worse. Thankfully there were no head injuries. I was out a few months, but I’m still young and was able to come back quickly.”

Can you tell us about some of the better horses which you have been privileged to have sat behind?

“In terms of money earned and Grade 1 events won, the two that probably stand out right now are American Mercury [$1,125,969] and Dandy Ideal [$1,299,007]. I won the $500,000 Messenger with American Mercury and the $300,000 Dan Patch with Dandy Ideal.

“There have been young horses for such trainers as Ake Svanstedt and Nifty Norman who have yet to have won the Grade 1 races that they will probably win down the road. But there is one, barring misfortune, that I believe will go on to become one of the true greats in our sport’s history.

“Just recently I was able to drive Starstruck Dreamer for Noel Daley. Todd McCarthy, his regular driver, was busy driving at The Red Mile and was unable to get to Pocono to drive him in a PASS. Noel put me up to drive him there. He won as easy as could be. We were just cruising. In his next start at Chester with Todd up, he broke the world record winning in 1.48.4f, also just cruising. I have no idea what his limitations could be, but right now I look upon him as the kind of a horse that could take the sport to a new level.”