08/11/06 Twin racers

Twin Racers I read about an event that is so interesting and unique I just to have to share it with you. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be back in one minute to tell you about it. A first just happened this spring in American Quarter Horse racing history. I'm sure Quarter Horse racing fans already know about this, but I had not heard about it. Two-year-old twin fillies won top level elite races one month apart in the same year. On April 30th, First Prize Robin won the Remington Park Futurity then June 4th First Carolina won the Heritage Place Futurity. The dam was First Prize Dash and Mr. Jess Perry was the sire. Here are some percentages that show how unique this event was  twin pregnancies in thoroughbred horses which would be similar to Quarter Horses is around five percent, only about one percent of those reach full term, and one veterinarian figures only eight percent of full term twins will be born and live more than two weeks. I'll leave calculating those odds to you mathematicians. On top of all that you have to add in the fact that these fillies were the result of an embryo transfer procedure where one egg split to form two embryos. Next you need to figure the odds of the two fillies both wanting to race, staying healthy and sound and then winning against so many other good young horses. I just don't think this is going to happen again next week or maybe even the week after. I sure hope both fillies continue successful careers. I'm Jeff Keane. America's Horse July/August 2006