A group of Ontario-based horsemen recently travelled to Bermuda to enjoy some sand and sun after a busy summer of racing. As it turns out, Hurricane Gonzolo had another plan for this adventurous group.
Heather Toll and Mark Beaven of Dungannon, Ont. have been visiting Bermuda on a regular basis for a number of years, calling it their “slice of heaven on earth.” Over these visits they have befriended a number of locals, including a number of the local pony racing enthusiasts on the island.
Pony Racing in Bermuda before Hurricane Gonzolo
For those that don’t know, Bermuda has a very active group of horsemen that harness race ponies similar to the pony racing that takes place in Quebec and Indiana. What makes Bermuda unique is the track.
Due to the lack of available land on Bermuda (the island is only 22 miles long and 1 mile wide) space is limited to have a regular half-mile oval. The Bermudian horsemen, believe it or not, are racing over a one-fifth of a mile track. It is one big constant turn.
To give an example of the speeds that they are routinely going on this “donut,” one only needs to look at the times. Ponies racing for total distances of one half mile are regularly crossing the finish line in 1:05 and faster. Drivers are routinely having bikes break wheels because of the torque on the constant corners.
“The local horsemen are some of the friendliest people I have ever met,” comments Heather Toll. “Every time we visit, we are made to feel welcome.”
Toll and Beaven joke about how they are honourary members of the Driving Horse and Pony Club of Bermuda. “We receive their club newsletter and emails; we are members of the DHPC Facebook page; we talk on a regular basis to many of the horsemen on the island. We definitely feel part of the group.”
On their most recent trip to Bermuda, you could then imagine Beaven and Toll’s concern when they found out that Hurricane Gonzolo had hit the island head-on and the island’s National Equestrian Centre and Race Track had suffered considerable damage.
"We were so excited this year to be going to Bermuda and bringing some fellow Canadian horsemen so that they could experience the pony races,” stated Beaven. “But unfortunately, Gonzolo had changed those plans.”
Joining the Dungannon couple this year were owners Bryan and Mary Grace Durst of Brydown Farms in Clinton, Ont. and Standardbred driver Shawn O’Brien and his daughter Haley. The Durst’s, who have horses in Heather Toll’s racing stable, had never been to Bermuda, while O’Brien used to live on the island some years ago.
When the group arrived on the island on October 23, a mere five days after the Category 3 Hurricane had hit, it soon became evident that there unfortunately was not going to be any racing. The Equestrian Centre and Race Track sit cut inside a limestone hill just west of Bermuda’s capital of Hamilton. Numerous trees had fallen from the hillside above onto the track and caused considerable damage including one large tree that had completely destroyed the Judges' booth.
Never one for missing an opportunity to help fellow horsemen and equestrian enthusiasts in need, the group heard that there was going to be a work party during the weekend of their vacation and joined in on the relief efforts.
“It was a lot of fun pitching in to help.” said Toll. “It was the least we could do to thank them for all the kind hospitality that they have shown us over the last number of years.”
Along with approximately 30 Bermudian horse enthusiasts, the Canadian horsemen were kept busy picking up brush, cutting down trees, and fixing the fences.
In the end, it was still going to take a few weeks to rebuild the track lighting system and the Judges' booth, but harness racing is expected to be resume shortly.
“It just makes us look forward to our next trip,” replied Toll. “We can’t wait to be sitting trackside enjoying some Rum Swizzle, watching the ponies racing almost as fast as Gonzolo’s winds!”
Hurricane Gonzolo work party
I've been to Vesey Street (as
I've been to Vesey Street (as most of the locals call it) many times, both for horse shows and pony racing. They'd made a lot of great improvements the last time I visited, in October 2013. Sad to hear there was so much damage, but if I know the Bermudian horsepeople, they'll be back racing in no time.