May drives 3000th winner after nearly dying 18 months ago

Harness racing driver Ricky May has driven his 3000th winner at Addington today, 18 months after falling from the sulky at Omakau when suffering a medical event.

That day his heart stopped beating for several minutes until he was finally revived by fellow driver Elle Barron.

As it turned out May had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy a condition in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick even though his heart was fairly healthy. He has since had a device fitted to start his heart if it ever happens again.

Mays amazing driving comeback continued after he got back in the sulky 12 months ago still needing more than 50 wins to get to 3000 and today he got there driving 5yo mare Sheeza Artist (Art Major – Living Lady) to a debut win for good friends Greg and Nina Hope.

May becomes the third New Zealand harness racing driver to achieve the milestone, with Tony Herlihy and Maurice McKendry also in the 3000 win club.

When asked after the race what it felt like to drive his 3000th winner an emotional May said,

“After what happened to me it took a fair effort to get back to where I am now, but it feels great”

“It has been a bit of a battle but I slowly wore down the 3000 wins”

Where to next for Ricky May?

“Well I am just going to carry on. I am not going to give up quite yet,” he said.

May also grabbed a third place today in race two driving trotter Random Spur for trainer Chris Morrison.

View the Addington harness racing results click here!

Harnesslink Media