“He’s a walking miracle – a war horse!”

IT IS a reasonable assumption David Carpenter spent too much time in detention during his school life.

How else do you explain Carpenter forming a friendship with the Principal which would see them eventually enter harness racing ownership together?

Remaining coy about his possible misbehaviour during his Floraville Public School days, Carpenter recalls his official entry into the industry “like it was yesterday”.

Before his venture as an owner Carpenter had previously watched the action because his father, Lawrence, “liked to go to the races”.

“The School Principal Des Payne, his mate Max Kelly and two other blokes who worked with Max and I raced a mare together,” Carpenter said.

“Her name was Little Dark Eyes and the group of us actually leased her with Alwyn Morris as the trainer.

“Geez, that was 30 years ago and a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then.”

That passing water has brought about a lot of changes in Carpenter’s life, including a war he has been battling for the past five years.

While the three decades have seen Carpenter’s involvement in the industry flourish from lessee to owner, breeder and respected administrator, his health hasn’t enjoyed the same good fortune.

For example, in 2016 Carpenter’s exciting youngster Tingira Beach captured the Group One Vicbred Super Series Final at Tabcorp Park Melton.

Trained by Shane Tritton and driven by his wife, Lauren, Tingira Beach rated 1:56.4 over 2240 metres as Our Little General and Wrappers Delight filled the placings.

Around the same period Carpenter was given gut-wrenching news from his doctor.

Carpenter was diagnosed with Metastatic Melanoma Cancer and given six months to live!

“It is a disgusting cancer,” Carpenter’s wife, Kym, said. “It starts in one place, and just when you think you got it, the ball just moves somewhere else.

“It started under his eye and the surgeons took it out, but it travelled to his neck, then lungs, liver, kidney, spine and tibia.”

Showing the fighting qualities of a true stayer, Carpenter has met each “curve ball” with determination.

Those various curve balls have required Carpenter to have six operations, 11 radiation treatments and titanium rods inserted into his arms.

“David had to have two tumours removed, with the one in the cortex of the brain quite large,” Kym said. “The brain was the hardest one to take and led to his retirement as an accountant in 2018.

“It has travelled to most of his body, with his arms the biggest problem. He’s got titanium rods in both arms, but the right one causes a lot of pain.

“Although he can use that hand he has no muscle or tone.

“Due to the brain operations he has lost bit of short term memory, but gee he can remember his horses!”

While Kym does suspect the typical husband “selected memory” sneaks in at times, Carpenter’s recollection of his team – from racing to broodmares to their foals – remains strong.

In fact, when discussing the feats of Mother Kym – named in honour of his wife – Carpenter wasn’t going to be told he was wrong!

Mother Kym notched four wins and 22 placings from 51 starts, with her biggest success coming in the New South Wales Breeders’ Challenge Regional Final.

For the record, that 2014 victory was in Young despite Kym’s persistence it was at a different track!

“Mother Kym did well enough, including her main win in Young,” Carpenter said.

“Now Mother Kym is a mother herself and gave us another Club Menangle win a few days ago.”

Building a handy record of 16 wins and five placings from 35 starts, Mother Kym’s son Major Bob proved too good on Monday.

Trained by David Aiken and drive by Joshua Gallagher, Major Bob covered the mile in 1:51.9 as Never Been Said and Mighty Flying Art filled the placings.

A life member of the Newcastle Harness Racing Club, where he was Treasurer “for a long time”, Carpenter is also an active member of Harness Breeders New South Wales as part of his passion for the breeding side of the industry.

“I’ve got four mares in foal now and will be sending three to be served this season,” Carpenter said.

“After racing a few mares all those years back I wanted to breed from them and that’s how it started.”

While his condition prevents Carpenter from being as physically active as he’d like, he has no plans of slowing down his harness racing involvement.

“He loves harness racing and watches as many races as he can when he’s not working on his spreadsheets for the mares, deciding on the best crosses and bloodlines,” Kym said.

“Normality is the biggest thing in life for us at Skyfall Estate…if we get thrown another curve ball we hit it back and go on.

“David amazes me every day…he’s a walking miracle – a war horse!”

• PAUL COURTS