Secretariat (March 30, 1970 – October 4, 1989) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who, in 1973, became the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years. Secretariat set speed records in all three Triple Crown races. His time of 1:59​2⁄5 in the Kentucky Derby still stands as the Churchill Downs track record for ​1 1⁄4 miles. His disputed time in the Preakness Stakes was recognized as a stakes record in 2012. He won the Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths, setting an American record for ​1 1⁄2 miles on dirt that still stands. He also set a world record in the Marlboro Cup, and proved his versatility by winning two major stakes races on turf. His 1972–1973 racing career resulted in five Eclipse Awards, including American Horse of the Year honors both years. Of The Blood-Horse's Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century, Secretariat ranks second only to Man o' War. After siring several major stakes winners, Secretariat died at age 19 of complications from laminitis.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretariat_%28horse%29

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1867:

U.S. secretary of state William H. Seward negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia for US$7.2 million. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Purchase

1950:

Usmar Ismail began shooting Darah dan Doa, widely recognised as the first Indonesian film. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darah_dan_Doa

1972:

Vietnam War: North Vietnamese forces began the Easter Offensive in an attempt to gain as much territory and destroy as many South Vietnamese units as possible. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Offensive

1981:

Trying to impress actress Jodie Foster, obsessed fan John Hinckley Jr. shot and wounded U.S. president Ronald Reagan and three others outside the Washington Hilton hotel (immediate aftermath pictured). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attempted_assassination_of_Ronald_Reagan

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

pseudopatient: 1. (dated) A person who pretends to be ill, especially to gain some benefit. 2. (medicine) A person who poses as a patient so that research may be conducted or staff trained. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pseudopatient

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Wealth often takes away chances from men as well as poverty. There is none to tell the rich man to go on striving, for a rich man makes the law that hallows and hollows his own life.   --Seán O'Casey https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Se%C3%A1n_O%27Casey