In a picture of grace and style Eddie The Great stole the show from Grand Marshall yesterday, turning in a pair of superb performances during local harness racing at the Vesey Street track.

With Charles Whited holding the reins, the four-year-old pacer turned on the speed and came within one fifth of a second of the track record in the day's final race -- free-for-all -- clocking one minute, 8.4 seconds (1:08/2) and fending off late challenges from Shamrock Tuxedo and Nateway.

"He just keeps getting stronger, he's developing more and is mentally more mature,'' said Whited, who recently took over the pony from Keith Woodley.

"In the last race things went well and as long as there is a pony to stay with him he'll break the record.'' The thrilling finale punctuated a fine day of racing where the horses were the real stars and humans looked on in admiration of nature's beauty.

A vociferous crowd sat eagerly on hand, cheering on their favourites, who responded in kind with a number of close finishes.

The most difficult task became that of finding a seat among the throng as the house was filled to capacity.

Up until the last race, Ellie Wilson's charge had indeed shown himself to be the `Grand Marshall' on the basis of two domineering wins in the `B' section of the free-for-all.

Trained and driven by John (Johnnie Five) Flood, Marshall displayed tremendous raw speed and appeared to have rectified an earlier problem that had his hind legs hitting the front, causing soreness and a slowing of pace.

Though pleased with a 1:09 recorded in the horse's second heat -- he had 1:10/1 in the first -- Wilson was still looking for improvement.

"He can do better ... we're going for the track record!'' said Wilson.

"Johnnie Five's really been putting in time with him and it's showing.

"He got hurt early in the season and has had to get back into (race) condition to come up (in the time bar).'' Serving as fodder for Marshall on each occasion were Pleasant Surprise and Catch A Fire, second and third respectively on each occasion.

It was also a day for the youth to show their skills and 12-year-old Nicholas DeCosta and Bobby DeGraffe, celebrating his 21st birthday, grabbed the spotlight with open arms.

DeCosta, having just one season under his belt but showing poise and experience beyond his years, coasted to a pair of wins driving Tuff's Little Missy in the 1:20-1:26/4 bar, easily outdistancing his older opponents.

He attributed his success to the tutelage under his father, Michael, and expressed a desire for the junior driver/pony combination trophy awarded to the points winner at the end of the season.

"I just listen to what my dad tells me to try and if it doesn't work I have to take my losses ... today it worked,'' said a beaming DeCosta afterwards.

"I was racing against that old pony (Charger's Rob Roy) and he's not as fast as my five-year-old who has a lot more energy.

"Plus she's not too fast for me and suits me well.'' For DeGraffe and Gusto's Cracker Jack, yesterday marked the continuation of a winning streak that has so far encompassed four races made more amazing by the fact that DeGraffe has only been in four and only made his debut during the Remembrance Day event.

"I've always been into horses and used to come down here as a handler and just worked my way up the chain,'' said DeGraffe. "I know I have a good pony and my goal is to win as many races as I can and keep a steady pace.'' Meanwhile, other double winners were Ell Dee's Mary Ellen (Joseph Viera) in the 1:17-1:19/4 bar, Hoe Down Don (Daniel Greenslade) in the 1:11-1:13/4 bar, Misty's Little Dream (Michael Rodrigues) in the 1:17-1:19/4 `A' bar and V Six in the 1:14-1:16/4 `B' bar.

Starfire Abbe missed out on a sweep of the 1:20-1:26/4 `A' division when she was disqualified for interference in the second heat.

"It was a very successful race day, nobody flopped and we had a lot of people here watching,'' said public relations officer Annie Sousa. "The sport is certainly on its way up. We started in 1989 with 13 ponies and we're now up to 37 ... but we need a bigger track.

"We have some of the best ponies in the world here.'' COURSE MARSHALL -- John (Johnnie Five) Flood, far right, seen guiding Grand Marshall to victory over, from left, Pleasant Surprise (Worrell Bean) and Catch A Fire (Eddie Roque).