after being towed at high speed around the Vesey Street track.

Mrs. Samantha Stevenson escaped serious injury when one of the two ponies pulling her buggy panicked when a strap snapped.

The pony careered into the other and they set off galloping around the track with a frightened Mrs. Stevenson clinging onto the reins in a desperate attempt to control them.

But they continued to charge around the track before Mrs. Stevenson was thrown in front of the paddock where racers and officials rushed to her aid.

The ponies galloped down the back straight pulling the battered buggy behind them and attempts to stop them in the finishing straight also failed.

Two men carrying poles diverted the ponies into an enclosure and racer Mr.

Charles Whited grabbed their reins and turned them around, calming them.

St. John's Ambulancemen rushed to Mrs. Stevenson and treated cuts and bruises to her heads, right arm and leg.

Mrs. Stevenson had on the parade buggy pulled by ponies Time After Time and Royal Heir. She was leading Mr. Whited driving Eddie the Great and Jonnie Five driving Grand Marshall in the 11th heat of the day's racing.

She said: "One of the straps broke and hit Time After Time. He panicked and just set off running and I was holding on.

"When I was going round the corner I felt I was falling and so I tried to jump clear.'' Mr. Whited said: "It has happened to me with one horse. It must have been frightening with two horses because they just pull apart and because they are fastened together they bang back into each other which continues to frighten them.'' It was an exciting day for Mr. Whited who also won four races. He saw Time After Time and Royal Heir running towards him after a number of people had attempted to stop them.

Mr. Whited said: "Somebody forced them into an area using two poles and I grabbed the reins and turned them around.'' Race announcer Mr. Harry Furbert said: "It was a frightening experience but it is specifically for these occasions that we have the St. John's Ambulance here.

"We do tend to have a few spills in this sport and you need someone to be on hand to give medical attention. I tried to explain that to the crowd and they applauded.'' Mrs. Stevenson said she was feeling fine but she was taken to hospital because it was feared she may have suffered slight concussion from the head injury.

The horses were not injured.