Historical clue formulations

• ___ close second (almost won) — 2010-08-01
• "The young lambs ___ pretty race": Wordsworth — 2009-12-04
• ___ deficit (lost money) — 2007-10-16
• Frog genus that's Spanish for "frog" — 2007-05-18
• ___ fever (was sick) — 2004-02-28
• ___ fever — 1999-08-06
• Words before tab or temperature — 1999-04-30
• Indian prince — 1997-05-11