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pentathlon

(Encyclopedia)pentathlon pĕntăthˈlən [key], composite athletic event. In ancient Greece it comprised leaping, foot racing, wrestling, discus throwing, and casting the javelin. The modern pentathlon, an Olympic ...

Rickenbacker, Edward Vernon

(Encyclopedia)Rickenbacker, Edward Vernon, 1890–1973, American war hero and airline executive, b. Columbus, Ohio. He became a car racing driver at 16 and set numerous speed records. In World War I he volunteered ...

Anderson, cities, United States

(Encyclopedia)Anderson. 1 City (2020 pop. 54,788), seat of Madison co., E central Ind., on the White River; inc. 1838. It is a manufacturing center in a fertile farm area; food products, aircraft ...

parimutuel betting

(Encyclopedia)parimutuel betting părˌĭmyo͞oˈtyo͞oĕl [key], system of cooperative wagering invented (c.1870) in France by Pierre Oller. According to the system, the holders of winning tickets divide the total...

quarter horse

(Encyclopedia)quarter horse, American breed of light horse that originated during the colonial era, partly from Arabian ancestry (see Arabian horse). The name refers to the horse's reputation for speed at the quart...

Hamilton, Lewis

(Encyclopedia)Hamilton, Lewis (Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton), 1985–, British race car driver. After winning several European and world karting championships, he...

greyhound

(Encyclopedia)greyhound, breed of tall, swift, sight hound developed nearly 5,000 years ago in Egypt. It stands about 26 in. (66 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs about 65 lb (29.5 kg). Its short, smooth coat may...

Bonneville Salt Flats

(Encyclopedia)Bonneville Salt Flats bŏnˈəvĭl, bŏˈnēvĭl, bŏnˈvĭl [key], desert area in Tooele co., NW Utah, c.14 mi (22.5 km) long and 7 mi (11.2 km) wide. The smooth salt surface of the Flats is ideal fo...

Thoroughbred horse

(Encyclopedia)Thoroughbred horse, breed of light horse more properly known as the English running horse. As its name implies, it was the first pedigreed, or “thoroughbred” horse. It originated in England from c...

Vlaminck, Maurice de

(Encyclopedia)Vlaminck, Maurice de mōrēsˈ də vlämăNkˈ [key], 1876–1958, French painter, writer, and printmaker. At first an avid racing cyclist, he supported himself (c.1900) as a musician and taught himse...