Like all harness racing drivers, Ricky May can't wait for racing to finally resume later this week.
But for the seven-time New Zealand Cup winner, that excitement is also mixed with emotion.
It's been 6 months since he was brought back to life after suffering a heart attack while racing, and on Tuesday he got to thank his guardian angel.
May admits he still hasn't watched the harrowing footage of his tumble at Omakau.
"Everyone that's seen it told me not to look at it, so I've just done what they said," May tells Newshub.
May suffered a medical event during the race and was dragged on the track for some distance.
Ellie Barron was on the spot to perform the CPR that saved May's life.
"Relief more than anything, but it was a big shock for me," May says, recalling the dramatic events that day.
"At the time it was fine. I was doing what you had to do."
The 62-year-old May now has a new life saver - a cardioverter defibrillator implanted in his chest designed to whip his heart into action should it suddenly stop again.
"The first few months were pretty sore with broken ribs and everything," May says. "After that, I've got into it and never looked back."
That attitude has him chasing a milestone when he returns to racing at Addington on Friday.
"I'm only 53 wins off 3000, so it will be nice to get there."
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