# Tell us an interesting random fact you stumbled across (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 13, 2020, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674 "2020-04-13T03:19:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 443
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2024, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8851 "2024-01-31T20:36:37Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > ome/all of the sailing and equestrian (and I think shooting as well) events were open to both sexes until recently. Equestrian has always been both sexes. Princess Anne rode in the Olympics. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2024, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8852 "2024-01-31T20:40:09Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Equestrian has always been both sexes. What about the horses themselves? ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2024, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8853 "2024-01-31T22:27:14Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > What about the horses themselves? This is a joke question, right? Horses are selected for talent and nothing else. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2024, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8854 "2024-01-31T22:42:51Z")
Most champion horses have been male, for the same reasons that most top human athletes are male, but there have been a few competitive mares. The rules don’t treat them any differently. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8855 "2024-02-01T01:18:44Z")
With only three exceptions over its 148-year history, **the winners have been exclusively male stallions**. “A total of 40 fillies have run in the Kentucky Derby and six were post-time favorites,” explains the Kentucky Derby’s official website. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8856 "2024-02-01T01:22:28Z")
2% female champions is still a heck of a lot better than human female athletes have done. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8857 "2024-02-01T01:27:03Z")
Huh? Since when has the Kentucky Derby/horse racing been Olympic? We’re talking show jumping, dressage and eventing here in Olympic terms, and AFAIK most horses in these competitions are geldings or mares. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8858 "2024-02-01T01:58:59Z")
Announcements on the Singapore Metro (MRT) are made in four languages: English, Chinese (Mandarin), Malay, and Tamil. Ride on it enough, and you will be able to say “Mind the gap” in all four languages. Announcements on the Taipei (Taiwan) Metro are also made in four languages: English, Chinese (Mandarin), Chinese (Hakka), and Chinese (Taiwanese Hokkien).The latter is spoken by 70% of Taiwanese. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8859 "2024-02-01T14:17:38Z")
Today I learned that, in the years 1960-1969, the NFL played a game called The Playoff Bowl, or, as it was officially named, the Bert Bell Benefit Bowl. Originally called The Runner-Up Bowl, all ten games in the series were played at the Orange Bowl in Miami. The game featured the losers of the two conference championship games. The series ended with the merger of the NFL with the AFL. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8860 "2024-02-01T15:33:23Z")
Three pigeons have been taken into custody over the years in India. Two were suspected of being spies! > **[Indian police clear a suspected Chinese spy pigeon after 8 months in bird lockup](https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/indian-police-clear-suspected-chinese-spy-pigeon-after-106856263)** > > Indian police cleared a suspected Chinese spy pigeon after eight months’ detention and released it into the wild Tuesday, news agency Press Trust of India reported ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8861 "2024-02-01T16:17:47Z")
Yes, Olympic horses are mainly mares and geldings, with mares having statistically longer and more successful careers than geldings. Stallions are fewer but are often stars. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8862 "2024-02-01T18:23:17Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Yes, Olympic horses are mainly mares and geldings, with mares having statistically longer and more successful careers than geldings. Stallions are fewer but are often stars.   My question wasn’t a joke. Species other than ours have sexual dimorphism, and I didn’t know if it’s enough to matter with horses. ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8863 "2024-02-01T21:55:02Z")
The Olympic road cycling race is longer. I know you were referring to athletics only, but I’m feeling very pedantous yoday. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8864 "2024-02-01T22:28:44Z")
And the time trial - post #8837 j ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8865 "2024-02-01T22:34:50Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > My question wasn’t a joke. Species other than ours have sexual dimorphism, and I didn’t know if it’s enough to matter with horses. There’s little athletic difference between geldings and mares. Stallions are not commonly kept entire unless they are truly exceptional animals, as they typically take considerably more skill and facilities to manage (racing is a whole nother ballgame; the horses are immature – almost all those stallions racing as three year olds will soon be gelded). Stallions have stronger necks and shoulders than mares and geldings of the same breed. They are also more aggressive and strong-willed. But that doesn’t make them more competitive in the Olympics. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8866 "2024-02-02T02:32:00Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Today I learned that, in the years 1960-1969, the NFL played a game called The Playoff Bowl, or, as it was officially named, the Bert Bell Benefit Bowl. Originally called The Runner-Up Bowl, all ten games in the series were played at the Orange Bowl in Miami. The game featured the losers of the two conference championship games. The series ended with the merger of the NFL with the AFL. And from 1934 to 1976 (except for ‘74, due to a strike) the NFL champions played a team of college all-stars. It was played in the summer in Chicago. Among the collegians who played were Jackie Robinson (who scored a touchdown) and Gerald Ford. In the 42 College All-Star Games, the defending pro champions won 31, the All-Stars won nine (the last in 1963, when they beat the Packers. Sammy Baugh also led the collegians over the Packers in ‘37), and two were ties, giving the collegians a .238 winning percentage. > **[When the College Football Stars Played NFL Champs | HISTORY](https://www.history.com/news/chicago-college-all-star-game-nfl-1976)** > > The last game, a 24-0 win by the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers in 1976, was played in a 'surreal' deluge. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8867 "2024-02-02T13:30:34Z")
Today I learned about Major Taylor. A remarkable athlete who needs more attention. > **[Major Taylor: The first Black American global sports superstar](https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20240131-major-taylor-the-first-black-american-global-sports-superstar)** > > He shattered world records abroad but was shunned at home. Now, the greatest athlete you've never heard of could receive the US' highest civilian honour. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8868 "2024-02-02T19:25:12Z")
Thank you for that, @Love_Rhombus. Cycling fan here, and I had never heard of him. The Alula Tour is running at the moment in Saudi Arabia. Yesterday’s stage finished with a lap and a half of the perimeter road on a camel racing course - and commentary alerted me to this interesting random fact: > A robot jockey is commonly used in camel racing as a replacement for human jockeys. Developed in 2004, the robotic jockeys are slowly phasing out the use of human jockeys, which in the case of camel racing in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, often employs small children who reportedly suffer repeated systemic human rights abuses. In response to international condemnation of such abuses, the nations of Qatar and the UAE have banned the use of human jockeys in favor of robots… > > …The robots are remote controlled by operators being driven alongside the race track in SUVs. ([source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robot_jockey)) j ---
**Author:** ![Mortimus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Mortimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mortimus)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8869 "2024-02-02T19:52:01Z")
deleted ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8870 "2024-02-02T23:39:03Z")
Jesse Owens was not snubbed by Hitler as is often believed. But he was snubbed by Roosevelt. Owens received no invitation to the White House, nor even a telegram, unlike other gold medal winning athletes. > **[White House Finally Honors the African-American Athletes of the 1936 Olympics](https://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2016/09/white-house-olympics-berlin/502325/)** > > The participants did not receive congratulations from Franklin Roosevelt after they returned home from Berlin. > “Hitler didn’t snub me; it was our president who snubbed me,” [said](https://fee.org/articles/hitler-didn-t-snub-me-it-was-our-president/) Jesse Owens, the 23-year-old track star who won four gold medals, of Franklin Roosevelt. “The president didn’t even send a telegram.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=442) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=444)