1728 – George Frideric Handel’s opera “Siroe, re di Persia” premieres in London
1849 – 11th Grand National: Tom Cunningham wins aboard 20/1 Peter Simple; 2nd consecutive year there are 3 equine fatalities during the race
1933 – German President Paul von Hindenburg abolishes free expression of opinion
1940 – Richard Wright’s “Native Son” published
1989 – Gretchen Polhemus, 23, (Texas), crowned 38th Miss USA
1991 – “Speed of Darkness” opens at Belasco Theater NYC for 36 performances
1995 – The US Pentagon announces that it monitored Iranian installation of surface-to-air Hawk missiles in the Strait of Hormuz
2004 – 24th Golden Raspberry Awards: “Gigli” wins
2012 – 54th Daytona 500: Rain affected race stopped for 2 hours because of fuel on track; Matt Kenseth leads for final 34 laps to win
2013 – The brains of two rats successfully connected so that they share information