Ray and Debbie Green in happier times with My Copy who won again at Auckland on Friday night. PHOTO: Chanelle Lawson.
Seven hour operation can’t keep Ray down - he’s already barking out the orders
By Barry Lichter • 22 November 2022
Debbie Green always knew her husband Ray was tough.
But when the phone rang this morning and it was the hopsital nurse telling her Ray had woken up after a seven hour operation last evening, she was reminded of the resilience of horse people.
“I could hear Ray asking for his own phone so he could call the boys at the stable and tell them what to do for the day.”
Green, who just two weeks ago was the toast of the harness world after winning back-to-back New Zealand Trotting Cups with Copy That, was kicked by a young filly yesterday while undoing the clip on her cover.
Stable junior Monika Ranger saw the incident and rushed over to Green who was on the ground in obvious pain clutching at his stomach.
Green, 77, at first resisted being taken to hospital, saying he’d be OK and would just sit for five minutes in the tea room.
But it soon became obvious Green wasn’t going to recover without help and an ambulance was called to take him to Middlemore Hospital.
Surgeons who operated on Green told Debbie the kick “made a hell of a mess” with considerable bleeding from two main veins which were “smashed”. Removing the damaged sections and re-attaching them to his colon and bowel proved a lengthy process.
“I told the surgeon he was tough but he said it doesn’t matter how tough people are when you open them up. He says there’s still a chance of infection and it will take months to heal properly.
“But Ray’s attitude is very positive and he told me today it didn’t seem that bad.”
Remarkably, Green doesn’t bear any malice to the filly who had just come back in from a spell after being broken in.
“Ray said it’s just a young horse and they don’t know what they’re doing. But apparently the same filly had kicked out at Zac (Butcher) a few days earlier.”
Debbie Green said she’d been overwhelmed by the messages of support for Ray - her phone had been ringing non-stop.
Lincoln Farms’ owner John Street sat with Green and Ranger for several hours in the hospital waiting room yesterday afternoon where she was also surprised by a visit from Ben Jeffcoat, son of Pukekohe thoroughbred trainer Denise Jeffcoat.
She met Jeffcoat briefly about 18 months ago while being treated at A and E for a split knee.
Jeffcoat, who had been trodden on by a horse, was treated by the same nurse Nicole who, now his partner, was with him yesterday.
“I was stressed out and feeling sick yesterday when he arrived and Ben was amazing, he even drove me home. He told me how he was in awe of Ray, had introduced himself at the sales, and couldn’t believe how it was just like talking to one of the boys.”
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Debbie Lincoln
5.26pm
“She had to sit parked most of the way last time but still went well, and that’s what she does. She’s proven to be a very promising filly and, while it’s hard these days to win without a good trip, it’s an even field and she’s a good chance again.”
Race 2: Lincoln Lou
5.55pm
“He probably cost himself a win last week by going roughly, but he can do that. If he’d got Frisco Bay’s trip he would have won with his closing quarters of 56 and 27 the fastest in the race. He’s just got to do things right to be the one to beat, even from the bad draw, as it’s an easier field.”
Race 5: Frisco Bay
7.30pm
“He’s up in grade a bit but I don’t think there’s anything between them. He’s just got to get the right run and, with his speed, he’ll be right in it.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
7.59pm
“He’s no superstar but he’s very honest and he’s always a place chance as he’s a tough bugger, he sat parked last week.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.59pm
“With a similar run to last week, he’d be right in it. He clocked 55.8 and 27.7, doing his best work at the finish. He hasn’t gone a bad race since he’s come back.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.59pm
“I wasn’t expecting him to do anything on debut as he’s a green, young horse. But he went very well so he’s obviously lifted his game for the occasion. And he’s trained on even better so the experience has enhanced him. From the inside he has to be a good chance.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.59pm
“She’s definitely a better animal left-handed but she was passable right-handed and should go better this time. She’s got some speed.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
8.59pm
“She’s a nice filly but is behind the others. I don’t expect her to beat anything but she needs the experience.”
Race 8: Lincoln Linda
8.59pm
“There won’t be any shadows for her to jump this time so she has to be a serious chance. She’d been dominant at the workouts and trials before her debut but didn’t get the chance to show her true worth.”
Race 8: Lincoln Lover
8.59pm
“Fergie was quite impressed with him on debut and requested the drive again. He finished on strongly up the lane and should go well again. He just needs some luck from the outside of the gate.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 3: Argyle
9.04pm NZ time
“I thought his last two starts have been terrific. There’s no doubt this race is tougher, and he has trickier draw, but I was talking to Angus last night and he was quite upbeat about his chances. He said the horse gave him a good feel when he sat parked two starts back and he picked him too (in the draft). But it won’t be easy. There could be a bit of pressure early. I think he’ll come out and see what unfolds and, if there is too much pressure, he’ll drive him quietly.”
Ray’s comments
Sunday at Manawatu
Race 1: Onyx Shard
5.29pm
“You can put a line through her last run at Cambridge when she pulled up showing signs of a respiratory infection. She had a couple of weeks off after that and, while she hasn’t trialled since, she’s been training down nicely. She’s a nice filly and from the good draw should really win.”
Race 3: Lincoln La Moose
6.19pm
“He wasn’t far away in the amateur race at Auckland last time despite jumping a shadow early and galloping. This is a decent drop in class for him and he should be very competitive.
