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Shelly Bay could be transformed into a horse racing track once again as the galloping ghost of the past pulls the sport towards a bright new future.

Plans have been drawn up for a quarter-of-a-mile track around the circumference of the cricket and football field.

The aim is to provide a new home for the growing number of harness-pony racers and potentially to reintroduce thoroughbred horse racing to Bermuda.

At its heyday in the 1950s the old Shelly Bay track would attract crowds of up to 4,000 with jockeys flown in from overseas for weekly race days.

It was shut down in 1961 and the Equestrian Centre at Vesey Street, Devonshire, has been the home for harness pony racing in recent years.

Now the sports' governing body believes it needs a return to a bigger venue, with Shelly Bay the preferred spot.

But the plan could face opposition from other sports - like cricket and football - which use the field as well as residents in the vicinity.

Officials from the Driving Horse and Pony Club met with former sports minister El James at Shelly Bay this week to discuss the project, before his promotion to Education Minister in yesterday's Cabinet reshuffle.

Nick DeCosta, president of the Driving Horse and Pony Club, said the current track was the smallest in the world and was becoming dangerous with the increasing number of fast ponies it had to accommodate.

"The sport has grown so fast and so big that we need another venue. We started with something like 15 ponies 15 years ago and now we have 70.

"Moving to Shelly Bay and a quarter-mile track would allow us to stay competitive internationally. That's pretty much as small as they get anywhere else in the world."

He added that it would also be possible to host thoroughbred horse racing once again.

"At a quarter-of-mile we should be able to do that, no problem," he added.

DeCosta said the main field, used for cricket and football, could remain intact with the track going around the outside.

The redevelopment would involve digging into the banks on either side of the field and chopping back some of the oleander trees.

He said the club had drawn up plans and just needed to make a few amendments before opening the process up to public consultation and submitting an official request for planning permission.

Pony racer Chris Roque said it would be a costly plan but it was necessary for the future of the sport. And he said most of the harness pony racers had the expertise and the tools to do the bulk of the work themselves.

"It wouldn't be cheap but if they gave us permission we could fund it ourselves. We've got enough trucks, machinery and expertise within the membership to complete the project without having to go outside for help."

Then sports minister El James had told website Island Stats earlier this week: "We are in early talks about putting a Race Track back here at this facility, we are here today to look at the facility to see what if anything can be done".

"A meeting will be held with members of the community very soon to discuss what direction the field will be going in and the possible benefits of having the Driving Horse & Pony Club Racing at the location."

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