Simplify the following text for a Grade 4 native English-speaking person.
Original: This reduced the distance by 18.688 m , and Rain Lover 's 1968 race record of 3min .19.1 sec was accordingly adjusted to 3min .17.9 sec .
Simplified: This made it 61ft 6in shorter , and Rain Lover 's 1968 race record of 3min .19.1 sec was changed to 3min .17.9 sec .