It is often said apples don’t fall far from the tree.And this has certainly been the case for seasoned harness driver David Lopes whose son and grandchildren have followed in his footsteps.The well known radio broadcaster began racing ponies in the early 1970s and since then has been joined at the racetrack by son Robert (43) and grandchildren Tyler (17) and Brandon (16).“It makes me feel proud to have my son and grandchildren involved in the sport as well,” he said. “Harness racing is a family oriented sport and there are a lot of people involved in the sport that are also related.”Having helped his father tend to his racing ponies growing up as a kid, it was always only a matter of time before Lopes’ son jumped into the sulky.“I was in diapers when my father had ponies,” Robert recalled. “I grew up around ponies and my father influenced me.“Back then my father had show ponies and racing ponies and I remember going with him to races at PHC and Nationals Sports Club. I would help him take the ponies to and from the track because he had two of them and didn’t have a trailor.”After purchasing his own racing pony in 2000, Robert began competing against his father at the existing Vesey Street racetrack.“We’ve raced against each other a few times and you really don’t think about beating your father or your father beating you because you’re just out there to compete,” he said. “A lot of times the commentators said father against son but I never looked at it like that ... I just went out there to drive and have fun.”As was the case with his son, the elder Lopes has also helped shape the racing careers of grandsons Tyler and Brandon.“Tyler used to sit on my lap when I used to jog ponies,” he recalled. “He couldn’t even walk or talk for that matter but he used to sit on my lap and I’d put the reins in his hands.“Brandon was a little slow getting involved and then he had an accident and I really don’t think he’s gotten over that yet. We need to get him a pony that can build up his confidence again, and hopefully I can do that for him next year.”Unlike his father and grandfather who take things in stride, Brandon tries his best to upstage his elder sibling at the track.“Racing against my brother can be intense,” he said. “I want to beat my brother because he has been racing longer than me. This is only my second season while he’s been racing since he was 11.“I’ve raced my brother a few times and the first time I raced him was one of my better races because I had to push the horse to keep up with him although he still got me at the finish.”Whenever Mount Saint Agnes student Tyler needs advice, he never has to look far with his grandfather and father always nearby.“It’s pretty good because you always have someone you can go to for advice and someone you can trust,” he said.Tyler said winning trophies isn’t his main priority.“If you get a trophy at the end of the year that’s a good thing, but I don’t focus my season around winning trophies,” he said.”I just go out there to have fun and enjoy what I do.”David, 70, echoed his grandson’s sentiments.“To me, the titles are not what it’s all about ... it’s about doing something you enjoy and doing it safely,” he said.The veteran driver said harness racing is a sport that instils good values in people.“Harness racing teaches you responsibility because it’s not just about putting a harness on a pony and taking it on the track and racing it,” he added. “Those ponies have to be fit and it’s a lot of work involved.”