Twin racehorses to begin second careers in polo

The rare twin Thoroughbreds Mr. Ping and Mr. Pong, who drew national attention when they debuted in the same race in April, have been retired from racing and will embark on second careers as polo ponies under twin brothers Charlie and Harry Caldwell.

The 3-year-old geldings by Denis of Cork and out of the unraced Domestic Dispute mare Washingtonian were foaled on April 16, 2015, at Avonwood Farm in West Virginia for owner and breeder John P. Casey. The successful birth of twins is rare for horses, especially Thoroughbreds, whose pregnancies are closely monitored.

About 10 percent of Thoroughbred pregnancies initially result in twins, but most of them are reduced to one embryo via veterinary intervention. Otherwise, the mare may abort both foals, or complications will lead to at least one stillborn foal.

Mr. Ping and Mr. Pong were both trained by Larry Curtis. In their maiden-claiming debut on April 6 at Charles Town, Mr. Pong finished fifth and Mr. Ping sixth. Mr. Pong started once more, finishing seventh in a maiden claimer in August at Charles Town. Mr. Ping made two more starts in June, finishing 10th and fifth in maiden claimers at Charles Town and Mountaineer.

The Caldwells, who are in their late teens, are based out of Coldwater, Tenn., and have a track record of repurposing off-the-track Thoroughbreds for polo. Charlie Caldwell trained Old Tavern, a mare bred by Curtis, to win the vote for last year’s “America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred” title, the crowning award presented at the Retired Racehorse Project’s $100,000 Thoroughbred Makeover at the Kentucky Horse Park. This year, Harry Caldwell will compete the mare Hookedatfirstsite in the Makeover, set for Oct. 4-7.