Horse and carriage workers spoke of their distress after the Front Street horror, but also their anger at news of a possible ban on their trade in the city.

Mayor Sutherland Madeiros told a press conference yesterday that the Corporation of Hamilton is seeking legal advice regarding the future of the popular tourist attraction.

“I think the Corporation would like to have a little more control,” he said.

Ray Bean, owner of the horses that crashed through barriers into the Harbour Nights event, injuring 19 people on Wednesday evening, was unwilling to talk publicly yesterday.

He was said by industry insiders to run a company that usually takes tourists on tours from Dockyard. The pair of grey horses involved in the incident are kept at Terceira’s stables in Devonshire, where staff yesterday said they were uninjured and doing fine.

Wayne Hill, a driver with a separate operator, Shilo Carriage Company, was near Mr. Bean when the incident unfolded outside AS Cooper men’s clothing.

Mr. Hill said Mr. Bean had got out of his carriage to tend to one of his horses when the pair got spooked and bolted — pinning their driver between them and the back wheel of the Shilo carriage.

“He grabbed the harness on the horse and was trying to hang on but by that time they were at a full gallop.

“There was a barricade in front of the Birdcage and the horses hit that,” said Mr. Hill, from Southampton.

As Mr. Bean’s horses tore through the barrier and down Front Street, Mr. Hill said he felt powerless to do anything as his own horses were by now “jitterish” and he had to concentrate on keeping them calm — wrenching his back in the process.

“I was pretty shaken up. It was a horrible scene,” he said, speculating that Mr. Bean’s horses were frightened by the volume of people milling around and the noise.

However, despite the horrific incident, Mr. Hill was adamant that a city ban on horses and carriages would be wrong.

“It’s a treat for the tourists. They love it, and some locals too,” he said. “It’s my livelihood and I live for this, to drive the carriages and deal with the tourists.”

Dee Charles, who co-owns Shilo with husband Hobby, said operators were staying away from Front Street for now out of respect.

“We have to come to terms with what happened. They need to investigate. I understand that and we have no intentions to go down there. It’s a very serious matter and I am very upset,” she said.

Shilo, which owns ten hacking and five riding horses is usually the sole horse operator on Front Street, and Mrs. Charles said the thought of a ban filled her with horror.

“I am very much concerned about the impact on my business. This is not a typical event. The Mayor has to understand that I have a business,” she said.

Mrs. Charles believes the answer to ensuring tragedy does not strike again is strengthening the barrier that allowed the runaway horses to access the main part of Front Street on Wednesday.

John DeShields runs Caledonia Stables, which conducts horse tours in St. George’s. He said: “Accidents do happen, whether it’s with horses, bikes, or cars. Horses are part of our heritage. Just because of this accident doesn’t mean they should take horses away.”

Incoming President of the Chamber of Commerce, Philip Barnett stressed yesterday that horses were not allowed on the main part of Front Street during Harbour Nights anyway, and the incident had nothing to do with event organisers.

However, he pledged that detailed consideration will be given to whether they will be allowed to trade on the fringes of the event in future.

“There will be no rash decision on anything as to what the outcome will be, as it will affect someone’s livelihood,” he said.

Wayne Perinchief, Community and Cultural Affairs Minister, told yesterday’s press conference that Government may review the use of horses at public events including the forthcoming Bermuda Day parade on May 24.

Carriage operators are licensed by the Transport Control Department. They undergo a medical examination and are vetted by the Public Service Vehicle Licensing Board. A condition of the licence is an examination “for competence to operate the horse and carriage”.

Last night a spokesman said: “TCD has reserved any comment on this matter pending the conclusion of a full Police investigation into the incident.”

Don’t destroy our livelihood, say horse and carriage drivers