Customer Reviews

Saratoga Tales

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I grew up near Saratoga, and I've always liked the way Bill Heller writes about racing. Too many sports writers cover racing and only want to cover the statistics. Bill Heller gets to the heart of racing; the stories of the horses and the people involved who love them.
Barbara Livingston has contributed photos which really add to the book. Even though they are in black and white, she has a way of capturing the soul of the subjects she photographs.
This book just makes you fall in love with horse racing. If you already love racing, you will love to hear what your favorite jockeys, trainers and owners have to say about your favorite horses. Also, there is no negativity in this book. It would be so easy in some of the tales to come down hard on those involved, and no one does that. I like that this book looks at those who are often overlooked in the racing industry. Credit is given to everyone from the track superintendants to the starter and the gate crew for doing their jobs well. Let's face it, no one notices the gate crew or the maintenance people until something goes wrong, and then it's too easy to jump all over them.
Anyway, I think this is a very enjoyable book, and easy read and it really makes you want to vacation in Saratoga this year, just to be a part of the magic that is Saratoga in August.

If you are a regular at the race track, or even if you only have seen 1 or 2 horse races in your life, than you will love this book as I did. I read the book and found the stories so great that two weeks ago I went to Saratoga Raceway for the first time in my life.
In the very first race the starter did something wrong and they had to refund all the money bet on horse number 1.
It made the stoties in Saratoga Tales as true as could be.
I loved these stories and I will remember them whenever I go to the races again.

I bought this book, along with another collection of race track stories for my husband. He really enjoyed it, and since he is a trainer and a vet, that is an excellent recommendation.

For the past two summers, I have been very fortunate to be able to attend a few days of racing at the historic Saratoga Race Track, and was looking for a book that would share some of the stories of famous people and horses that have spent time at Saratoga. Saratoga Tales was a perfect choice because it is well written, and shared the best stories of triumphs and tragedies that are part and parcel of any racetrack. It was great fun to read the stories of favorites that won, and upsets that happened. I loved it.

A very enjoyable read from beginning to end