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I Read the News Today, Oh Boy: Ron Turcotte Rode Secretariat to Victory

Did you know that the fellow who rode the greatest race horse of all time to the Triple Crown was a Canadian? Better not tell Donald Trump. He may try to impose a 200% tariff on horse races.

For last week's headline theme, we gave the hint "we suspect that when many readers get it, they will say: 'Of course, of course.'" We thought that was a pretty dead giveaway, but we nonetheless added this on Sunday: "Some readers who have already responded to this week's puzzle, liked it and said 'yea,' while others said 'neigh.'" And now, courtesy of reader M.K. in Long Branch, NJ, the solution:

The headline theme is famous horses, real or fictional:

Habemus Papam!: Leo XIV, nee Robert Prevost of Chicago, Will Succeed Francis—Francis the Talking Mule of short story and film

Trade Deal: What Would Paul Revere Think?—From the song "Paul Revere" by the Beastie Boys

The Clown Show, Part V: Ed Martin Is Out—Mister Ed of the 1961-1966 TV series, of course, of course

Malicious Compliance: Teachers Know How to Trigger Conservatives—Roy Rogers' horse

I Read the News Today, Oh Boy: From the Desert of Khartoum to the Shores of Tripoli—Jack Woltz's horse in The Godfather, killed by Luca Brasi

This Week in Schadenfreude: Uh, Could We Get a Citation for That?—Triple crown winner in 1948

This Week in Freudenfreude: Popemobile to Become a World Traveler—Robert E. Lee's horse

There's actually a famous quarter horse (not mule) named Leo, but most readers went with Francis the talking mule, so either is OK. And there's a horse named Paul Revere in the song "Fugue for Tinhorns" from Guys and Dolls, though the Beastie Boys' horse named Paul Revere (surely inspired by Guys and Dolls) was the one we were thinking of. And of course Secretariat, from this headline, is possibly the most famous horse of them all.

Here are the first 50 readers to get it right:

T.F. in Craftsbury Common, VT
B.M. in Chico, CA
M.W. in Altea, Spain
C.R. in Cromwell, CT
L.R.H. in Oakland, CA
K.H. in Albuquerque, NM
J.T. in Philadelphia, PA
S.S. in Lucerne, Switzerland
J.F. in Fayetteville, NC
R.A. in Chesterfield, MO
K.G.W. in Lafayette, IN
K.R. in Austin, TX
D.S. in Layton, UT
S.K. in Ardmore, PA
B.E. in Brooklyn, NY
A.D. in Vass, NC
B.J.L. in Ann Arbor, MI
T.M. in New York City, NY
C.W. in San Francisco, CA
R.M. in Concord, NH
M.Z. in Sharon, MA
T.K. in Half Moon Bay, St. Kitts
C.W. in Atlantic Beach, FL
J.L. in J.L in Conway, MA
M.K. in Seattle, WA

R.B. in Amherst, MA
M.J. in Oakdale, MN
C.B. in Lakeville, MN
M.C. in Falls Church, VA
J.H. in Flint, MI
M.L. in Lakewood, CO
G.M. in Gaithersburg, MD
M.K. in Long Branch
R.C. in Eagleville, PA
R.S. in Milan, OH
J.N. in Zionsville, IN
R.P.E.H. in London, England, UK
D.D. in Highland Park, IL
J.D. in Jamaica Plain, MA
B.D. in Chicago, IL
E.P. in Tillson, NY
J.C. in Keene, NH
A.A. in Branchport, NY
J.S. in Jacksonville, FL
K.J. in Paw Paw, MI
M.M. in Dunellen, NJ
M.T. in Simpsonville, SC
D.L. in Springfield, IL
J.M. in Eagle Mills, NY
J.C. in Johns Creek, GA

The 50th correct response was received at 5:35 a.m. PT on Friday.

As to this week's theme, it relies on a single word in each headline, and is in the Trivial Pursuit category "language." It's near impossible, we think, without a monster hint, so we will ask: You know what the words 'car,' 'flee,' and 'file' have in common? Add a 'T' to the end, and you have a new word. And you know what the words 'hat,' 'old,' and 'art' have in common? Add a 'C' to the beginning, and you have a new word. Of course, even with that assist, you still have to figure out which letter, which headline words, and beginning or end.

If you have a guess, send it to comments@electoral-vote.com with subject "May 16 headlines." (Z)

This item appeared on www.electoral-vote.com. Read it Monday through Friday for political and election news, Saturday for answers to reader's questions, and Sunday for letters from readers.

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