Colin Mello, the Driving Horse and Pony Club of Bermuda president, is looking forward to what promises to be another exciting 2020-21 harness racing season, which officially gets underway today at Vesey Street.

Drivers and ponies from among seven time bars will do battle for early season bragging rights in the 20 scheduled heats at the Bermuda Equestrian Centre.

“The 2020-21 DHPC Committee are excited to finally get our new race season underway,” Mello said.

“Like many sports, our season start has been delayed due to Covid-19 and the two hurricanes in September, so all the drivers and owners are excited to get their ponies back racing.”

Most of the teams are back this year with last year’s top pony, Google Me, among the exceptions.

Robert and Tyler Lopes’s mare defended her Champion of Champions crown and also won the coveted aged stakes title on New Year’s Day with driver Candyce Martins before being retired at the end of last season.

Google Me holds the overall track record and mare’s record, which stands at 1:01/1.

Kamali Tucker, who will compete on Belhaven Stables’s pony Iron Mike, is the only rookie driver this season. Keith Woodley’s two-year-old Bermuda-bred pony, Smooky Brona’s Girl, is another new addition to the track.

Karista Rabain, Catrina Stephens and DHPC president Mello are among the drivers returning from a hiatus.

“In addition to all the usual faces at the track, we have a new rookie driver joining the racing this year as well as a new two -year- old Bermuda Bred rookie pony, so this season is shaping up to be a fun one already.” Mello added.

“We look forward to welcoming back all our spectators and welcoming any new spectators but remind everyone that there are COVID-19 protocols in place, that the DHPC Committee politely ask everyone to abide by so that we can get back to racing and stay racing safely for all.”

Racing begins at 6pm.