The fate of the opening event in the harness racing season hangs in the balance with Tropical Storm Philippe expected to make a direct hit on the island this afternoon.

As it stands, the Driving Horse and Pony Club have yet to postpone Friday’s event at the National Equestrian Centre, where teams will compete in among five separate time bars spread across eight heats.

“We are still currently scheduled for tomorrow night at 7pm, but with that storm hitting us earlier we want to wait and see what the track is going to look like, so as of right now it is on,” Amanda Martins, the DHPC secretary, told The Royal Gazette.

Race officials will make an inspection of the racetrack at the Devonshire facility to determine whether or not it is suitable for the event to go ahead as planned once the storm passes.

Download PDF File

10 06 23 Races Schedule.pdf

“If it’s going to be cancelled we will make that call by 3pm, so it’s 50-50,” Martins added.

“It depends on whether this storm comes with a lot of rain and washes out the track, if we’re going to have the time to grade it and stuff like that, because we don’t really want the horses out in high winds and rain on that footing.”

Featured on the racecard are Lee Raynor Jr’s stallion, Special Gold, the Martins family mare Double Time, and Maurice Raynor’s gelding Rockeyed Optimist, who are all competing in the Free for All Division boasting the fastest ponies on the island.

Among the notable absentees are Aaron Sims’ Indiana-bred pony Simsfield Hardtimes and War Machine, the reigning Champion of Champions.

The DHPC has undergone a leadership change since the previous season with Andy Stoneham replacing rival driver/trainer Colin Mello as president.