Hurst And Harada's Emotional Winning Return

TRACEY Hurst admits to shedding a quiet tear after husband Frank and his pride and joy Good Odds Harada both made winning returns to the track at Bulli on Tuesday night.

"In my eyes he's a legend of a man; to come back from what he's been through is all a bit overwhelming actually … I'm just so proud of him," beamed Tracey Hurst.

Earlier this year, while Tracey was holidaying in Bali, a trialling mishap at Richmond resulted in Frank Hurst breaking both arms.

And while the injuries were significant, there was a silver lining, with doctors identifying a tumor as a result of the incident.

"Life happens in funny ways," Tracey added.

"I'd rather him had not broken both arms obviously but because he knocked himself out they did a body scan and found the tumor. Had it not happened, we may have never found it."

Bulli on Tuesday night was the scene of two very important comebacks.

Not only was it the first time Frank put a rug on Good Odds Harada since mid-February, but it was also the return to racing for the Million Dollar Chase hero following a short stint in Victoria.

And what a dazzling return it was, recording a sizzling 22.07 over the 400 metres in the last event of the night. 

"We had two in so I went down with Frank and yes I did get a bit emotional," Tracey offered.

"Frank and that dog are just meant to be together. I know it might sound weird – and both Jason Magri and Anthony Azzopardi did great jobs with him and are good friends of ours – but Frank and Harada are just one and the same.

“When he got home the other week he was almost tap dancing.”

Hurst's long road to recovery hasn't been easy with plenty of ups and downs along the way.

But it's that steely resolve that Tracey attributes to Frank getting back up and running when the chances seemed forlorn only a few months ago.

"I was saying to someone yesterday it is all the things about Frank that drive me crazy that got him back,” Tracey added.

“His stubbornness and pigheadedness … all those things. But he just loves and adores his family and seeing his grand-kids and the dogs gave him that drive to get better."

When Frank underwent surgery to remove the tumor, doctors told Tracey the procedure would take 2 ½ to 3 hours.

It took just over eight.

"After a few hours the anesthetist came out and said that he was going to be paralyzed down his right side," Tracey recalled.

"About an hour later the doctor took me into a room and I didn't know what to think but she told me Frank had started to respond better and things were looking up.

"To go through this whole journey and see him at Bulli last night means everything. The first day he got back from hospital on his walking frame he went straight up the back to begin working out how he was going to fix our straight track. He's just been so determined."

For Tracey, Good Odds Harada's 28th race win at Bulli on Tuesday night will go down as his most memorable.

"It meant more to me than even the Million Dollar Chase," Tracey added.

"Frank's favourite saying is ‘when you slide down the banister of life sometimes you get a few splinters in your arse … it's who's there to pick them out that's important."

It's fair to say that Frank's endured more than his share of splinters in recent months.

But with both he and Good Odds Harada back in full swing doing what they do best, who is to say another Million Dollar Chase isn't in the wings in a few months time.

Now that would be some kind of comeback!