Respected horseman Graham Salisbury knows he's in for a tough fight against cancer after being admitted to the Bendigo Hospital.

Heathcote-based Salisbury is the man behind Subzero with the pair working tirelessly as part of Racing Victoria's community education program.

"I'm feeling a bit better than I was earlier in the week," Salisbury told RSN927.

"It might be a bit of a sign that I might be half coming all right."

Subzero won the 1992 Melbourne Cup for trainer Lee Freedman and jockey Greg Hall before being retired from racing in 1994 and joining Salisbury.

The striking grey became Salisbury's clerk of the course's horse on Melbourne's metropolitan tracks before being retired in 2008.

Since then they have continued their charity work as racing ambassadors.

Salisbury had prostrate cancer last year but the cancer has reappeared on a rib while and has also been discovered on a spot on his spine.

He said chemotherapy had knocked him around.

"It's not a very good feeling for someone who has been so active all their life," he said.

A gofundme page has been set up to help the Salisbury family cope with the mounting bills associated with his illness.

"I don't like getting charity and things like that," Salisbury said.

"Sometimes you've got to bow your head because these bills come in.

"I'm not working of course and there's nothing coming in at the moment, the tanks a bit empty.

"Those people that have put in, I can't thank them enough."

Salisbury also thanked the Bendigo Equine Hospital which has picked up the bill following Subzero's recent kidney complaint and for his ongoing medication.