made her Bermuda debut and won her first heat in 1:16.2 at Vesey Street on Sunday.

A total of 26 trotting bred ponies raced in the 16 heats, providing some exciting action. Trottacre Byrd did not finish her second heat because of broken equipment.

Catch A Fire, driven by Derek Seymour, won the race in 1:10.3 and thus moves up to the junior free-for-all. Another pony on the move is Samantha Hayward Jr.'s Meteau Design who won in 1:09.1 and moves up to the free-for-all.

Eddie Roque, David Lopes and Johnnie Five shared driving honours with three wins each while Michael DeCosta's Grand Shady recorded the day's fastest time in 1:08.2.

The post parade for the third race saw three generations of the Lopes family competing. Four-year-old Tyler Lopes was the parade marshall with Bantam Ridge Sonny. Tyler's father Robert drove Trottacre Byrd and grandfather David was in the sulky behind Championne County.

Racing continues this Saturday at 1.00 p.m.

"There aren't many players one can idolize as a child and still look up to them as an adult. Walter was one of the few.'' -- Chicago Bears fan Sandy Fox echoing the views of many and paying tribute to Walter Payton, who died on Monday.