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There's a new breed of drivers growing up at Vesey Street Track. Tyler Lopes, Allison Outerbridge and Krista Rabain are youngsters who are 16 and under that are making an impression at the pony racing venue.

Rabain said she got into the sport after watching Catrina Sims. She said: "I used to see her and wanted to do it as well."

Rabain is no stranger to ponies. The S3 Berkeley student has been riding horses since she was seven and those horse skills have translated well to the sulky.

Her first race was on January 1 of this year aboard Na Na Shamrock out of Spicelands stables. Rabain's debut was on one of the most important of the year for pony racing.

"I had a pretty good time of 1:08," she said. "I was nervous at first - a bit scared."

She's back at the track for the new season, and, at 16, is one of the youngsters ready to give the vets a run for their money. Rabain's been racing her own standard bred Shamrock Golden Eye as well as Aaron and Catrina Sims' Na Na Shamrock and Special Dream.

Rabain said that Golden Eye has a need for racing.

"Tell him where to go and he'll give you everything he's got," she said.

Her biggest victory so far was taking Special Dream as a double heat winner and her fastest time is 1:05 4/5.

Aaron Sims said: "She's a rookie. She's definitely going to be a good driver - I have no doubt in my mind about that.

Sims added that what makes Rabain so special is "She's just real gentle in her hands with the horses. She's just like my wife (Catrina). She rides. You can tell the ones that ride. The ones that ride generally have a good feel with their hands. Nick (DeCosta) is the same way. She can hop on a horse for the first time and can figure it out within a matter of minutes."

Rabain had an aw shucks sort of attitude about it saying "I think it's just natural from horse riding."[[In-content Ad]]

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