The 2026-27 harness racing season officially kicks off at the Bermuda Equestrian Centre tonight.

Action gets under way at 7pm and will feature ponies battling for early season bragging rights in their respective time bars.

The season was originally supposed to start off with a Fun Day at Bermuda Equestrian Centre on September 27 but that was cancelled because of rain.

The Driving Horse and Pony Club of Bermuda is under new leadership after Candyce Martins succeeded Samantha Hayward as president during the association’s annual meeting.

During her one-year term at the helm, Martins, 24, hopes to increase participation in the sport, particularly at youth level as the club looks to the future.

The opportunity to serve as president came about after Hayward resigned just prior to end of last season to spend more time training her own racing ponies.

Aaron Sims and Kirista Rabain are the other new faces on the DHPC executive committee. Sims will serve as vice-president and Rabain as secretary.

Jonelle Welch, Paul Martins, Tahzii Flood, Jashaun Young, David Burrows and Melanie Dill are the surviving members of the previous administration.