On February 22, 1969, 19-year-old Barbara Jo Rubin became the
first female jockey to win a race at an American thoroughbred
track when she rides Cohesion to a victory by a neck over Reely
Beeg in the ninth race at Charles Town, West Virginia.

That she raced at all was a testament to Rubin’s ability to overcome physical hardship and prejudice. When she was 6, Rubin contracted polio. Some in the sport were adamantly against a woman jockey competing.

TIM MAGUIRE

John Wayne (Marion Robert Morrison) (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979)

TIM MAGUIRE

On this day in 1973, Secretariat won the 105th Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths and ran the fastest 1 1/2 miles on dirt at 2:24. The horse
became the first since Citation in 1948 to win America’s coveted
Triple Crown–the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes.

Secretariat Statue located at Belmont Park.

ROSS SIMPSON

The U.S. Senate Watergate Committee began its hearings on this day
1973. Senator Sam Ervin (below) opened the first public hearing on
Presidential Campaign Activities, commonly known as Watergate.

Richard Nixon leaves the White House following his resignation over 
the Watergate scandal.

TIM MAGUIRE

Alabama Gov. George Wallace allowed two black
students to enroll at the University of Alabama
on this day in 1963.

Vivian Malone entering Foster Auditorium to register for classes at
the University of Alabama. Vivian Malone, one of the first African Americans to attend the university, walks through a crowd that
includes photographers, National Guard members, and Deputy
U.S. Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach.

Protesting the persecution of Buddhist, a Vietnamese monk burned himself to death in a Saigon intersection on this day in 1963. He reportedly didn’t make a sound or even move during the incident.

The execution room at the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute, IN.

The U.S. government executed Timothy McVeigh (above) by chemical injection 
on this day in 2001. He was accused of taking the lives of 168 people when he
blew up the Oklahoma City federal building in 1995. He died silently, with his
eyes open. Instead of making an oral statement, McVeigh, 33, issued a copy
of the 1875 poem "Invictus," which concludes with the lines: "I am the master
of my fate; I am the captain of my soul."

Oklahoma City fire Captain Chris Fields carries Baylee Almon from
the Alfred Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City
following the 1995 bombing. Little Baylee died a short time later.

Sir Barton became the first horse to capture the Triple Crown when
he won the Belmont Stakes in New York City on this day in 1919.

The 1919 Belmont Stakes Trophy Silver Tray Presented to the Owner of Sir
Barton.

Marion Mitchell Morrison (Marion Robert Morrison) Born in Winterset, Iowa. (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979)

Between 1926 and 1976, John Wayne (nicknamed Duke) appeared in
over 170 motion pictures, and became one of America’s biggest box office stars, only Clark Gable sold more tickets than Wayne.