The curtain comes down on the 2016 Irish harness racing season at Portmarnock Raceway this Sunday (Oct. 30) where the grand finale and feature race of the afternoon will be a world record attempt for trotters covering two miles on a half-mile track.

Current record holder is the Swedish stakes performer Clear Sign, who trotted the equivalent of 4:06.4 back on July, 3 2013 with Ake Svanstedt doing the steering.

The promoter behind this audacious world record attempt is Thomas Richardson, part owner of Ireland's top trotting star, Vichy De Moem (pictured at right), and he firmly believes that the Irish can strike a blow against the larger more established harness racing nations and put Ireland on the map as an emerging force.

Joining Vichy De Moem in the lineup are Billy Star, Rol D’Auvignere, Scoops Team, West Cork Raider and Silvano Bello, with draw for all gate positions to be held on race day.

In a bold move to add further spice to the event, Richardson has also extended a wild-card entry across the water to John Foy who owns and trains the UK's top trotter, Sulky De Belquin, and his participation would make this world record attempt all the more memorable.

Tom Richardson and family have put up their father Barney's memorial cup for the race and contributed a significant amount of sponsorship which will see the purse rise to approximately €3,500 euros with a small entry fee of just €50 to enter.

All in all it promises to be a fantastic and fitting way to end what’s been a vintage season at Portmarnock Raceway and is guaranteed to send punters home on a high with maybe one of those rare “I was there when history was made” moments.

(with files from Portmarnock Raceway)