They're Off! : Horse Racing at Saratoga

by HOTALING EDWARD

• ISBN13: 9780815603504
• ISBN10: 0815603509
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1995-08-01
• Publisher: Syracuse Univ Pr

Summary

Here, for the first time, is the story of how America's first national resort gave birth to, then nurtured, its first national sport, introducing the country to a parade of champions and their spectacular supporting characters. To experience this adventure is to see why the Saratoga Race Course, America's oldest major sports facility remains one of its most beloved and most successful. They're Off! is as much a social history as it is sports history. Edward Hotaling opens with a little-known visit by the first famous tourist, George Washington, who tried to buy the place he called "the Saratoga Springs". Soon the pursuit of happiness at our original vacationland helped redefine America. Even at the height of the Civil War, the country's first organized sport was launched on a national scale.

Table of Contents

Illustrations	ix
Preface	xi
Acknowledgments	xiii
The First Tourist	1	(5)
America's First National Resort	6	(8)
A Preview of Modern Sports	14	(11)
The Old Gray Mare	25	(5)
America's First (Two-Legged) Sports Hero	30	(11)
The Birth of American Sports	41	(10)
You Are Here	51	(12)
The Yankees Celebrate	63	(13)
Siring the Belmont and Pimlico	76	(12)
Longfellow vs. Harry Bassett	88	(13)
The Derby and College Sports	101	(23)
Isaac Murphy and the Californians	124	(15)
Racing Through the Gay Nineties	139	(12)
The Women's Betting Ring	151	(14)
Saratoga Revived	165	(17)
Sysonby and Colin	182	(16)
From Regret to the Triple Crown	198	(7)
Man o' War	205	(11)
Rothstein and the Roaring Twenties	216	(12)
Gallant Fox	228	(14)
War Admiral, Seabiscuit, Whirlaway	242	(16)
Citation, Native Dancer, Tom Fool	258	(12)
The Greatest Travers?	270	(9)
Secretariat, Ruffian, Affirmed vs. Alydar	279	(13)
John Henry, go for Wand, Holy Bull	292	(19)
Notes	311	(18)
Bibliography	329	(8)
Index	337