On this day: April 28

Horse Bolts from Gate and Wins Alone in 1971 Race

On April 28, 1971, a Thoroughbred broke through the starting gate and ran the full course without jockey guidance, completing and winning the race alone—a rare instance of a horse carrying its own momentum to victory.

Early U.S. Poisoning Prompts First Documented Consumer Product Recall (April 28, 1932)

On April 28, 1932, U.S. health authorities and manufacturers responded to documented poisonings traced to a consumer antiseptic, marking what is widely cited as the first known formal recall of a consumer product in American history.

France’s First Recorded Automobile Race, Paris–Rouen, April 28, 1894

On April 28, 1894, the Paris–Rouen trial, organized by Le Petit Journal, ran as the first widely recognized automobile competition: a judged contest of reliability and safety over roughly 126 km between Paris and Rouen that helped launch public interest in horseless vehicles.