by Steve Wolf, Director of Marketing, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Australian trainer/driver daredevil stuntman Vincent Silvestro and his amazing horse, Hand Me Silver, wowed the crowd of 3,600 fans at Pompano Park Harness Track on Saturday with his fifth and most impressive performance at the south Florida oval.

Performing after the sixth race on the program, Silvestro put on a display of pyrotechnics done by no one else on earth. Silvestro actually stands on the shafts of his racing bike, hold the reins in his teeth, 15,000 candle-power marine boat flares in his hands, and then proceeds to electronically shoot off more than 2,000 rounds of fireworks from the back of his racing bike, all while Hand Me Silver races around the dark track.

At the end of the performance there is a “Circle Of Fire” display in the centerfield that also had the crowd on the edge of their seats.

Even one of harness racing’s icons of the sport, announcer Roger Huston of The Meadows had this to say about Silvestro’s performance Saturday.

“It is still the most spectacular show in harness racing,” Huston said. “I have seen Vince’s show a few times now and I still get as excited as when I call the Little Brown Jug Final. He is just a master horseman and I know that no one else could ever train a horse to perform this show as Vince has done. His display of fireworks tonight was one of the best I have ever seen and the crowd loved it.”

After Silvestro’s performance there were more fireworks on the track as Clos Pegase ($13.00) and driver/trainer Tom Harmer grinded out a first over 1:53¹ triumph in the $10,000 Invitational Pace.

The ninth race feature started off with Joey Zaza (Wally Hennessey) shooting to the early lead from post three with Clos Pegase getting the two hole trip to the opening quarter mile in :27¹. Cam In Black and driver Bruce Ranger were also on the move and took command, leading the field to the half mile in :57. It was then that Harmer came back with Clos Pegase, grinding his way on the outside with The Globe (George Napolitano, Jr.) following the outside cover.

By the three-quarters in 1:25, Clos Pegase had collared Cam In Black and cleared to the lead by the top of the stretch and then was able to hold off challenges by both Joey Zaza and a late closing Last Of Bella to win by a half length.

It was the third win this year for Clos Pegase, a five-year-old gelding by Sportsmaster, who is owned by the Ciarea Stable, Michael Polansky and Neil Silverman.