Veteran harness driver John Flood has hit back at claims Vesey Street racetrack is unsafe, insisting that the recent death of a pony was a “freak accident”.Robert Lopes’ colt Shadow Play died after being involved in a three-horse pile during the last round Bermuda CableVision Friday Night Series, prompting retired animal welfare officer Debbie Masters to deem the track “unsuitable” for racing.Flood agrees the racetrack needs to be made bigger but is adamant it did not cause the accident that claimed the life of the young pony.“The track is perfect, it’s not an unsafe track although we could do with a bigger track,” said Flood, known as Johnny Five.“For this women to come out and say it’s not safe for the ponies well, it’s just not so.“I think she spoke out of turn because she has never raced on the track.”The 54-year-old, who also coaches youngsters to ride and drive, said the Driving Horse and Pony Club had long been campaigning for the racetrack to be expanded.“We do need a bigger track and have tried for years and years to get a bigger space to open it up,” he said.“I don’t believe it would interfere with the wildlife like David Wingate (a well-known conservationist) said.“We know we need a bigger track but that accident was not the cause of the track.”Flood also disputed Masters’ assertion that Shelly Bay was a safer track than Vesey Street.“It’s never ever happened before at Vesey Street,” said Flood, who has raced at most of the Island’s former racetracks including St David’s Cricket Club, National Sports Club and White Hill Field.“My uncle actually got killed when racing at Shelly Bay where there’s been numerous accidents.“Every sport you do there are accidents but luckily with our sport there are hardly any.”Flood believes the cause of Shadow Play’s death was likely a heart attack that could have occurred anywhere.“It could have happened at any time, in the stable, loose in the paddock, on the road driving,” he said.“It was likely a heart attack; he didn’t die because he fell down because if the track or anything.“I watched the whole thing and I would say it was a heart attack.”