Saratoga Stories: Gangsters, Gamblers, and Racing Legends

by Jon Bartels

Long before there was a Las Vegas, there was a Saratoga. In a time before radio and television, Americans in the Gilded Age viewed Saratoga as the culmination of their hopes and dreams. Then as now, captains of industry and the very wealthy mingled with middle-class visitors for a summer sojourn punctuated by social events, parties, business, and the races, where major stakes days drew sell-out crowds. In Saratoga Stories, Jon Bartels regales readers with tales of the colorful characters of yesteryear such as Diamond Jim Brady and John Morrissey and racing stars like Man o' War and Native Dancer as well as modern-day personalities such as Marylou Whitney and legends like Secretariat. Throughout its long history, Saratoga Race Course has played host to the best - and sometimes the worst - that horse racing has to offer.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2007

Reviews

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nov 16, 530pm ~~ Review asap.

815pm ~~ From inside the cover:
"Throughout its long history, Saratoga Race Course has played host to the best -- and sometimes the worst -- that horse racing has to offer. Jon Bartels perfectly captures this fascinating stew."

It was indeed an interesting look back at the SRC, a place for High Society to see and be seen. The racecourse opened in 1863, but Saratoga Springs was a popular spot for trotting races and speed trials for about forty years before that.

It took gambler, prizefighter, and all around bad boy John Morrissey to create a track specifically for Thoroughbred racing. He lived the American Dream, going from rags and shady dealings to fancy clothes, lots of money, powerful friends, but still with lots of shady dealings. I guess some things a man just cannot give up.

In many ways, this is the story of quite a few super rich men and their escapades at Saratoga. After all, the area was the playground for the rich and powerful of those days. Privileged characters at play and all that.

I liked some parts better than others, of course. The chapter about Man-O-War was great, for example. So were the pictures throughout the book. I got a little tired of all the crooked shenanigans and manipulations indulged in just to win money: it was never really about the horses, was it. Money and prestige, that is all anyone seemed to care about.

And some things never change, I suppose.

But definitely the book was a good profile of a place I know I will never get to see in person, and I did enjoy the reading.

[Debbie Maskus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very thought provoking, especially about the horse betting and how the races were fixed and the super race horses.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as I have been to Saratoga and am going back soon.It was a slow read for me but I enjoyed the history lesson.

The best part was about the racing legends,the horses.

[Nic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information and history of early racing at Saratoga. Seemed as though it had been written as separate articles and then put in book format. Some information was quite repetitive.