Few would have believed it possible the horseman would drive in a race again when he lay lifeless on the Omakau race track in January, surrounded by paramedics and off-duty medical staff, working to revive his heart, which stopped after he collapsed and fell from the sulky of A G’s White Socks.
May’s return to race-day driving after suffering from hypertrophic obstructive cardiopathy was sealed when his cardiology specialist gave the all-clear on Monday for him to return to the track.
Naturally, the seven-time New Zealand Cup winner was delighted to get his ticket back.
He joked it was a pity it was winter,
but, other than that, it will be good to get back out there.”
May has one focus — getting back driving as well as he was before his Omakau incident.
“It probably hasn’t done me any harm having a break. I have been doing it flat out for 40-odd years.
“Hopefully I can come back as good as I was. That is the main thing.”
May has been itching to get back to the races since he resumed driving trackwork three months ago.
“I haven’t been allowed to drive at the trials or workouts.”
“I rang the stipes a month ago and I have had to get a clearance before I could even drive at workouts and trials.”
“I went to the specialist [on Monday] and it was all good and he said everything is perfect.”
May admits there could be a few nervous moments.
“I guess I could be a wee bit nervous when I first get out there until I get a couple [of drives] out of the way.
“I just really hope I can drive a winner. That would be great.”
May attended last week’s Friday night meeting at Addington with a good friend, trainer Laurence Hanrahan.
It could prove to be a big help in settling back into race-driving mode.
“I hadn’t been to Addington or any races for months and it was actually a bit overwhelming — all the people.”
“It was good to catch up with everyone and I think that will help when I go back this week.”
Though he has already caught up with many of his friends and colleagues, May still has a few more people he wants to see.
At the top of the list is the young reinswoman who was among the first to rush to his side at Omakau and who performed life-saving CPR on him, Ellie Barron.
“I haven’t caught up with Ellie yet. I am looking forward to catching up with her,” May said.
“We talked over Zoom, but I haven’t seen her, so that will be really good.”
