Bermuda’s harness pony racing season reached a fever pitch on New Year’s Day as Smart Machine clocked the fastest time of the campaign to date at the National Equestrian Centre.
The atmosphere at the Vesey Street track was electric, with a capacity crowd treated to a high-octane duel between two of the sport’s most consistent performers, Candyce Martin and Philip Correia.
The highlight of the day arrived in Heat 16 during the elite 1:03 and Faster Time Bar class. In a blistering display of speed and precision, Candyce Martin piloted Smart Machine to a season-best time of 1:01/4.
The performance was enough to edge out rival Philip Correia, who guided Red October to a formidable 1:02/2. Martin’s record-breaking run sent a clear message to the rest of the field, establishing Smart Machine as the pony to beat as the 2026 season gathers pace.
While Martin claimed the headlines for speed, the drama peaked earlier in the afternoon during Heat 8. In a precursor to their late-day showdown, Martin and Correia went nose-to-nose in a finish so close it required the judge’s intervention.
