A trio of two-year-old ponies will make their debut at the Bermuda Equestrian Centre racetrack during tonight’s harness racing season opener.

Among the newcomers to the Devonshire facility are Tyler Lopes’s Indiana-bred pony, Google Me, Daniel Greenslade’s pony War Machine, also bred in Indiana, and Edward Roque’s Bermuda-bred pony, Something Royal.

Another pony recently shipped in from Indiana is Francis DeSilva’s three-year-old, Kool The Fire, which is racing out of Hang Um High Stables.

Making their first appearance at Vesey Street in several years are Major Medical, GI Jane and Shamrock Casper.

Tonight’s schedule, which gets under way at 7pm, also features a host of drivers from last season, and from seasons past.

Charles Whited Jr, the Driving Horse and Pony Club executive, has urged the public to attend what promises to be an exciting night of racing.

“We encourage spectators to come out and enjoy a full card of exciting harness pony racing under the lights at the National Equestrian Centre,” he said.

“There are 24 ponies entered which will showcase the never raced before two-year-olds right through to the experienced aged ponies.

“Entry numbers are going to rise with some not being quite race fit yet and new ponies arriving on last week’s ship with more coming over the next several weeks.

“Harness racing plays an important role in Bermuda’s history, and we invite everyone to come out to support and be a part of our heritage and enjoy good clean fun.”

Organisers Driving Horse and Pony Club had planned to launch the season under floodlights at Vesey Street last Saturday, but were forced to cancel proceedings because of Tropical Storm Karl.

Cherokee’s Ironman dominated the sport last season, winning the coveted Champion of Champions and Aged Stakes titles.

Arnold Manders’s gelding also posted last season’s fastest time of 1:02/4 racing on the rail in the second heat of the Champion of Champions finals en route to clinching the blanket, with top driver Tyler Lopes at the helm.

Colin Mello’s retired stallion, Big Red Machine, holds the track record of 1:01/4 achieved in 2011.

Among the racing ponies that retired at the end of last season were Roque Family’s stallion, GV Crystal Ball, a former Champion of Champions winner, Manders’s gelding, Approved Credit, and Inwood Stables’ mare, Shady’s Liberty.