Daily Archives: May 6, 2017


Always Dreaming Wins Kentucky Derby

Always Dreaming splashed through the slop to win the Kentucky Derby by 2¾ lengths Saturday, giving trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez their second victories in the race but their first together. Pletcher and Velazquez have teamed up often over the years and are the sport’s leading money winners. On their own, they were a combined 2 for 63 coming into America’s greatest horse race. Pletcher won in 2010 with Super Saver; Velazquez won the following year with Animal Kingdom. Together, they were unbeatable on a cool and rainy …


Last Hindenburg Survivor, 88, Recalls: ‘The Air Was on Fire’

Thunderstorms and wind had delayed the Hindenburg’s arrival in New Jersey from Germany on May 6, 1937. The father of 8-year-old Werner Doehner headed to his cabin after using his movie camera to shoot some scenes of Lakehurst Naval Air Station from the airship’s dining room. “We didn’t see him again,” recalled Doehner, now 88 and the only person left of the 62 passengers and crew who survived the fire that killed his father, sister and 34 other souls 80 years ago Saturday. Doehner and his parents, older brother and …


Rain Could Play Major Role in Already Unpredictable Kentucky Derby

The U.S. Kentucky Derby, the first of three major yearly horse races in the United States, will take place on Saturday with rain in the forecast, adding another variable to an already unpredictable race. The 20-horse field lacks a clear dominant horse following winter preparatory races, and the 40 percent chance of rain predicted for Saturday could create a sloppy track ripe for an underdog victory. The last four Derby races have all been won by the favorite. However, without a dominant runner in the race, spectators and betters are …


First Players From Africa, Lithuania Mark New Era for Major League Baseball

It is what every aspiring baseball player strives for: a Major League appearance. “This is what you’ve been working hard for all the years,” 27-year-old South African Gift Ngoepe said. “This is what you dreamed of since you were a little kid.” Ngoepe’s dream came true April 26 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. At the top of the fourth inning at PNC Park, Ngoepe got the call to take the field, playing second base. He had just been added to the Pirates roster, promoted from their minor league affiliate Indianapolis Indians. …


Entrepreneurs Outside US Can Attract Silicon Valley Backing

The venture fund 500 Startups has been making a splash in Southeast Asia, most recently with Khmerload, a Cambodian entertainment news website modeled after the American media giant Buzzfeed. Binh Tran, a venture partner with the firm, sat down with Sophat Soeung of VOA’s Khmer service to talk about how entrepreneurs in developing countries could attract such investors. Here’s some of his advice for them: Remember, Silicon Valley investors are a click away I think first is to understand the whole startup ecosystem. All this information is at your fingertips. …


Attention, Wizards and Muggles: Harry Potter Book Club Launches in June

J.K. Rowling is launching a free online book club for fans and newcomers to her “Harry Potter” series. The Wizarding World Book Club will launch in June in celebration of the 20th anniversary of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” the first in what would become a seven-book series. The online community “aims to surprise and delight those who have never read a Harry Potter book, as well as returning readers who want to join the conversation,” says Pottermore, Rowling’s digital publishing arm. The club says its goal is to …


Kenyan Misses Sub-2-Hour Marathon by Seconds

Eliud Kipchoge was 26 seconds from making history Saturday but the Olympic champion finished just short of becoming the first person to run a marathon in less than two hours.    Kipchoge ran the 26.2 miles (42.2 kilometers) in 2 hours, 26 seconds, beating Dennis Kimetto’s world mark of 2:02:57.   The 32-year-old Kenyan did break his personal best time of 2:03:05, which was set at the London Marathon last year.   Organizers first listed his time as a second faster, then changed it to 26 seconds off the 2-hour …


Albanian-American Soprano Brings Her Critically Acclaimed Madame Butterfly to Kennedy Center

Giacomo Puccini’s Madame Butterfly comes to the Kennedy Center in Washington with Albanian-American soprano Ermonela Jaho playing the title role. Jaho is fast becoming one of the most sought-after sopranos in the world. She credits her success to her emotional surrender to every role, including Puccini’s masterpiece, which she says is rooted in her own origin. VOA’s Keida Kostreci reports. … From: MeNeedIt