Maitland reinsman Guy Chapple has a great regard for the Tamworth Paceway and on Thursday afternoon will return to take up four drives on an eight-race program and hopefully head home a winner.
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"The Tamworth track has been good to me. I have won two Golden Guitar Finals, a Tamworth Cup and The Pub Group Gold Nugget over the years," Chapple said.
But there is another reason for Chapple to head to the Tamworth harness meeting and that is to catch up with his older brother and fellow trainer Dean Chapple, who is based at Moonbi, and hopefully to enjoy a quiet celebration.
And the reason for the celebration.
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Two weeks ago, Guy received the OK to get on with life from his doctors after undergoing an operation along with radiation and chemotherapy treatment to beat bowel cancer.
"When they break the news to you it feels like the end of the world but with the support of my wife Ange and the two kids [Katie and Mitch] we got through it," he said.
"I will have a scan before Christmas and hopefully everything will be spot on and we can keep whacking away."
Guy had his first drive back two weeks ago at Newcastle at the Monday meeting where he piloted Roclea Image to a win with the mile rate of 1.54.3.
Four days later Guy picked up his second win behind three-year-old Rocklea Ruler, once again at Newcastle, in a mile rate of 1.58.6 with both pacers trained his son Mitchell.
"Mitchell's horses are going pretty good at the moment and I am proud of him as he has been holding down a job and working six horses for me while I have been off the scenes," Guy added.
In Tamworth, Guy will be driving three for brother Dean with Lasseter Shannon, Blissful Donna and Reckon I'm Smart.
"He has put me on a couple of slow ones and I have put him on Roclea Image at Menangle on Saturday night in a Group 2 race," Guy joked.
Roclea Image and Chappy Streetnorth will contest the For A Reason@Cobbity Equine Farm NSWBC True Blue Series for two-year-old colts and geldings with $150,000 on offer as the prizemoney.
Both pacers are trained by Mitch Chapple, with Guy on this occasion to become the strapper.
"I lost 13 kilos with all the treatment and the doctor told me it would take a little while for my strength to come back fully so I will just enjoy each day as it comes, on and off the track," Guy said.
"It has been good to get out and get back to some form of normality but on the other hand I am happy to sit back and watch Mitch for a while, he is doing a good job."
With both Dean and Guy being in the harness racing industry since their childhood, their own children are now stepping up to the plate, and especially in the hard times.
"Jack [Dean's son] came down in the school holidays and he helped Mitch out"
Guy will also take the reins behind Peaksart for good mate Aaron Goadsby in the opening event on an eight-race program for the Tamworth Harness Racing Club.
Guy may have had an enforced break from the industry but his stats are impressive.
After commencing his career back in the 1988/89 racing season, he has secured 810 winning drives including Group 1 success back in 2013 behind Mach Beauty, who won a 4 y.o. Entire and Geldings Final at Menangle.
Guy has also been instrumental in securing $3,596,263 for owners in prizemoney.
Of interest Mach Beauty won a Golden Guitar Final at Tamworth driven by Guy in the same year.