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.