Shamrock Tuxedo came within a tenth of a second of cracking his course record in the harness pony racing at Vesey Street yesterday.

In fact, in two astonishing rounds, Eddie Roque chased Shamrock Tuxedo to times of 1:07/3 and 1:07/2, just missing the 1:07/1 record they set at the last meeting.

The pair destroyed the field of Pleasant Surprise, with driver Worrell Bean, and Nateway, with Michael DeCosta. Pleasant Surprise managed a time of 1:09/4 in the second meeting.

Official announcer Harry Furbert said: "It is surprising that she was able to get down to within one tenth of a second of the record again. It just proves how fit a horse she is.'' Racing earlier had been overshadowed by a terrifying moment for race parade driver Samantha Stevenson, who had led the two drivers involved in heat 11 around to the start. Stevenson was driving the parade buggy with two ponies Time After Time and Royal Heir leading.

A strap broke causing Time After Time to panic. He crashed into the other pony and they careered off in front of the packed crowd and round the bend, Stevenson felt the buggy falling over and leapt out, tumbling onto the track.

The ponies continued to gallop around the track, with the wrecked buggy behind them, before they were finally persuaded to stop by driver Charles Whited and other race officials.

Stevenson was treated by St. John's Ambulance for cuts and bruises to her head, right arm and leg, and she was taken to hospital for a further check-up.

Furbert announced to the crowd: "This is why we have the St. John's Ambulance here because we never know what is going to happen on this race track.'' The crowd responded with a round of applause for St. John's Ambulance and Stevenson.

It was quite a day for Whited. Apart from rescuing the panic-stricken horses he also won all four of his races.

He rode Abbe Dabby Doo to two wins in her first-ever entry in the 1:11-1:13 time bar. Then, in two horse free-for-all races, Whited drove Eddie the Great to a couple of fast times against Grand Marshall, driven by Johnnie Flood.

Speaking of Abbe Dabby Do, he said: "She is getting fitter. She is only three years old, only a baby. She is just a little girl racing very well for her age and she has a lot of potential to get better.'' Abbe Dabby Doo posted times of 1:13.00 and 1:12.3, pushing the strong Hoe Down Don and Eddie Roque into second place on both occasions. Ponderbabe and Gusto's Cracker Jack exchanged third and fourth places in the races.

Their first race was probably the most exciting of the day with just two-tenths of a second splitting the first three horses.

Another thriller came in the third heat of the day, when Diamondway driven by Michael DeCosta came from behind to snatch victory over Direct Toy Boy and Ell Dee's Mary Ellen. In the second heat they again came from the back to win by a bigger margin.

There was no fairytale for Collin Mello making his Vesey Street debut in the first and fifth heats, driving old stager Charger's Rob Roy. They were overpowered by Keith Woodley and Dark and Stormy on both occasions. But Mello delighted the crowd of about 200 by getting within a tenth of a second in the second encounter.

Two riders also cursing their fortunes were Tom Matthews, driving V Six, and Sergio Burgess with Sandtrap. Both were disqualified from one of their heats and finished second in the other.

EARLY LEADER -- Collin Mello puts Charger's Rob Roy through his paces in the heat five, but Keith Woodley and Dark and Stormy, far left, overhauled him for victory in heat five. At right is Michael Roberts with Just A Gigolo.