At the end of the 19th century, Col. Edward Riley Bradley—a self-proclaimed gambler, bookmaker, and owner/manager of several casinos—was informed by his doctor that a more outdoor lifestyle might be beneficial to his health. Something as simple as taking walks or hikes might have done the trick, but this was much too slow-paced for Bradley. In his mind, the most sensible thing to do was start a racing stable, where he could benefit from outdoor living while simultaneously building an empire in a sport deeply intertwined with gambling. What a picture-perfect scenario!
