A man small in stature, modest of nature but big on achievement, leading freelance driver Richard (Ricky) Terence May is one of the 2013 inductees to the Addington Harness Hall of Fame.
From a prominent harness racing family - grand father Clarrie May won 1946 AK Cup with Loyal Nurse, father Terry May (trainer and former driver) and uncle Leo May (former trainer/driver) - meant that harness racing has always been a big part of Ricky’s life. Ricky spends much of his “spare time” farming a property at Methven.
Ricky May commenced as a junior driver in the 1976/77 season with his first win coming on Ruling River (trained by father Terry) at Orari in November 1976. He had reasonable early success culminating in finishing fourth (14 winning drives) to Tony Herlihy in his final season as a junior driver in the 1980/81 season.
A brief outline of Ricky’s achievements to October 2013 follows:
- Drivers Premiership 2003/2004 (105 wins)
- Top six (or better) position on Drivers Premiership for past 25 years
- Over 2,400 victories in New Zealand plus 17 in Australia (from 69 drives)
- Third NZ harness racing driver to achieve in excess of 2,000 career wins (2007/8 season) behind Tony Herlihy and Maurice McKendry; recorded 1,000 wins in Feb 1997
- Highest stakes earned in a season - 2009/10 $2,031,564; 2010/11 $1,867,454
- First South Island Driver to reach 100 wins in 1992/93 season (113); fifth driver after Peter Wolfenden, Tony Herlihy, Maurice McKendry and James Stormont
- Driven 100+ seasonal winners on four occasions (highest 115 - 2012/13)
- Drove 6 winners at Addington on 16 February 1991
- Winner NZ Drivers C/S in 1985
- Winner 3rd Australasian Drivers C/S in 1996 at Moonee Valley (2nd 1994 to Tony Herlihy; 4th 19995 to Ken Barron)
- Fourth 1997 World Drivers C/S in Germany including 4 winning drives
- One of only two to drive the winners of six New Zealand Cups (record jointly held with Cecil Devine) - Inky Lord (1989), Iraklis (1997), Mainland Banner (2005), Monkey King (2009, 2010) and Terror To Love (2012)
[Update 12 Nov 2013 - now leading driver of NZ Cup winners with seven : Terror To Love (2013) ]
Ricky May is known for his coolness under pressure often producing a gem of a drive to obtain victory. He is known for always presenting trainers with a racehorse each time they get back from racing, Ricky May has had successful partnerships with a number of trainers over the years including but not limited to -
Warren Stapleton - Highwood; October Pride; Cedar Fella
Brian Saunders - Inky Lord; Field Commander; Happy Sunrise; October Atom
Laurence Harahan - New Age Man; The Tough Nut; Marika; Highwood (part owner)
John Lischner - Tartan Clansman; Biddy BB; Eastburn Grant; Soft As Silk
Brian O’Meara - Christian Cullen, Cigar
Robert Cameron - Iraklis; Erotas; Lavros Voodoo; Drachma
Robert Dunn - Mainland Banner; Pankys Pacer
Brendon Hill - Monkey King,; Carabella; Harley Earl; Tennis Ball; Ellmer Hanover
Stephen Reid - Baileys Dream; Monkey King
Graham Court - Terror To Love
plus numerous wins on horses trained by his father Terry (Some Legacy, Balonne, Frangelico, Marfix, Pure Adrenalin, Spring A lot etc).
More specifically, he has driven numerous group and listed race winners in NZ plus in Australia. There are few major races he has not captured during his career, notably NZ Derby and an Interdominion although he has been placed on a number of occasions. He did drive current ID Champion pacer (Im) Themightyquinn to victory four times as a 3yo for Peter Bagrie. The more prominent among his many victories (a number multiple feature wins) are set out below (to October 2013) :
- one of only two to drive the winners of six New Zealand Cups (record jointly held with Cecil Devine) - Inky Lord (1989), Iraklis (1997), Mainland Banner.(2005), Monkey King (2009, 2010) and Terror To Love (2012)
- Driven winners of six Easter Cups (Inky Lord, Blue Chip Rock, Baileys Dream, Monkey King (2), Terror to Love)
- Driven winners of six Ashburton Flying Stakes (Vita Man, Happy Sunrise, Iraklis, Panky’s Pacer, Terror to Love (2))
- Driven winners of six Hannnon Memorials (Inky Lord, Iraklis - 2, Panky’s Pacer, Baileys Dream, Monkey King)
- Driven winners of five NZ Standardbred Breeders Stakes (Frangelico, Lento, Mainland Banner, Its Ella, Carabella) and Premier Mares Championships (Lento, Mainland Banner, Its Ella - 2, Carabella)
- Driven winners of five NZ Trotting Championships (Highwood, Cedar Fella, Allegro Agitato, Stylish Monarch - 2)
- Driven winners of four NZ Oaks (Robyn’s Treasure, Shania Patron, Mainland Banner, Carabella) and four Nevele R Fillies finals (Some Legacy, Robyn’s Treasure, Turkana, Carabella)
- Driven winners of three NZFFA’s (Iraklis, Monkey King - 2)
- Driven winners of two Dominion Hcps (Cedar Fella, Stylish Monarch) and two NZ Trotting FFA’s (Cedar Fella, Allegro Agitato)
- Auckland Cup (Monkey King)
- GN Derby (Inky Lord)
- Messenger/Taylor Mile double with Mainland Banner
- Rowe Cup (Highwood)
- National Trot (Allegro Agitato)
- Sires Stakes - 3 (Christian Cullen)
- Jewels (Carabella/Terror to Love)
- NZ/GN Trotting Derby (Ina Gold Digger)
- Australian successes include - Miracle Mile (Iraklis, Monkey King); Victoria Derby (Lavros Star); Aust Trotting Grand Prix (Allegro Agitato)
Ricky is also currently a Vice President of the Methven Trotting Club.
Compiled as at 1 November 2013.