Harness racing history was made Saturday (June 5). But this momentous occasion had nothing to do with Northfield Park and the Battle of Lake Erie. It came earlier in the day, courtesy a rare set of twin Standardbreds.
For Standardbred twins to be born is a rare enough occurrence in and of itself, but for them to make it to the races is even more of a long shot. But, lo and behold, Rolln Jill Sage and Rockn Jack Sage, born in May 2019, made it to the races — something that only 49 pairs of Standardbred twins have done in the past half century, according to the United States Trotting Association. The twins both faced the starting gate for the first time at the Macon County Fair in Decatur, Ill.
“It's really rare to have twins that both of them survive, and more rare yet for both of them to make it to the races,” Ron Phillips, who bred the pacers and shares ownership of them with his wife, Deloris, told the Decatur, Ill., Herald & Review.