Bart Heads for Italy

Ashburton-based trainer Bart Rice heads for Italy on Wednesday where he will represent South Africa in the World Amateur Gentlemens’ Driving Championships – 2011 at the end of July. The bi-ennial competition is being held in the southern town of Taranto at the beautiful Mediterranean Ippodromo Paolo VI racetrack. The competition has attracted entries this year from Sweden, Germany, Ukraine, France, Spain, Netherlands, USA, Canada, New Zealand and Russia, and will be held over a four day festival at the end of July.  Rice, accompanied by his wife Pam, will be representing Harness Racing South Africa and will help cement South Africa’s international ties with the sport. Although excited about the trip, Bart is somewhat nervous owing to his relative lack of experience. “It’s a very tactical sport and I’m  hoping to gain a lot of experience and learn from the other drivers. I have never raced on a professional hard-surface track before” he said. HRSA chairman Dean Latimer is delighted with the selection of Rice and said it augured well for the future of harness racing in SA.