Twins Mr Pong and Mr Ping finish half a length apart on unusual debut

Mr Pong and Mr Ping, a rare example of thoroughbred twins, finished fifth and sixth on their racecourse debut together at Charles Town, West Virginia on Friday.

Having already overcome considerable odds to make it to the racecourse at all, with twins rarely surviving birth, the three-year-olds were separated by only half a length at the finish in the six-runner 4½f maiden claiming stakes.

The pair, owned and bred by John Casey, were born at Amanda Morro's Avonwood Farm in Charles Town. She told The Journal: "They weren’t quite ready, and I think everybody knew that. This was their debut.”

Casey is looking to the future with the Larry Curtis-trained Mr Pong and Mr Ping, and said: “We were happy to get them here. We’re proud of them and very happy. Larry Curtis did a phenomenal training job.”