Youngson brought along the spoils of his Group One Vicbred Super Series final for three-year-old trotters victory with Danny Bouchea to buoy McCallum’s spirits. A little more than a month ago, McCallum was involved in a race fall which caused eight broken and three cracked ribs.

McCallum spent nine days unconscious after the fall, one which he rates among his worst in more than 55 years of driving.

The 78-year-old from Charlton recalled a crash at Terang which left race officials certain he was dead and another which resulted in a broken pelvis, but McCallum said he has never considered giving up the sport so dear to his heart.

"I’ve won every trophy that’s possible I think in harness racing, I’ve won the distinguished service award and I’ve won the most number of drivers and trainers premierships of anyone in Victoria," McCallum said.

"It gets into your blood a bit and I just love seeing a horse win.

"I’ve tried everything in the game and I’ve had a hell of a lot of success and a lot of downs, too."

Wedderburn local Youngson was visibly emotional on Wednesday when asked to describe the influence McCallum has had on his career.

"I really wanted to win the race for 'Macca', it was in my mind all week and I was thinking about him up here (in hospital)," Youngson said.

"Ian’s a legend in our area, but it’s hard to know what these sort of blokes mean to you, he works 12 hours a day seven days a week at what he loves, he’s just an inspiration.

"If we all could work half as hard as he has and have half as much success we’d all be happy." McCallum, who claimed the inaugural Gordon Rothacker medal for his outstanding contribution to Victorian harness racing in 2002, said he viewed his achievements as insignificant when compared to the lifelong friendships forged in the sport.

As recently as last year, McCallum was still expanding his legendary status by starting to train trotters successfully after almost 40 years training only pacers.

"We treat it as sport and everybody who treats things at sport can get away with murder, but it’s lot of fun, too," McCallum said.

"I’ve made friends all over the world through it, I’ve got a big stack of (get well) cards over there and the whole industry have been terrific to me.

"I’m a nobody though, I’m just a battler, I just love harness racing and I’ve made all the friends in the world from it. "When you see battlers like me survive and make a living and get my name in lights, and make so many friends along the way, it’s all worthwhile."