The Mystery at Saratoga

## Plot

Regan disappears after a friend of Mr Wheeler's visits Manor House and brings back memories of his past.  With Jim, Brian and Mart away at camp, Trixie, Honey and Dan try to uncover the link Regan has with Mr Wheeler's visitor and discover Regan's terrible secret from the past.  Trixie and Honey join the Wheeler's in Saratoga where they hope to find Regan and help him clear his name of the crime many believed he committed seven years ago.

## Characters

* Trixie Belden
* Jim Frayne
* Honey Wheeler
* Brian Belden
* Mart Belden
* Dan Mangan
* Helen and Peter Belden
* Bobby Belden
* Celia and Tom Delanoy
* Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler
* Regan
* Mr. Worthington
* Carl Stinson
* Joan Stinson
* Johnny
* Louie
* Scarface

## Chapter Titles

1. "Regan's Disappeared!"
2. A Troubled Dinner
3. A Shadow from the Past
4. Trixie's Plan
5. "The Trip Is On!"
6. The Search Begins
7. A Startling Discovery
8. The Pawnshop
9. "That Redheaded Sneak"
10. At the Races
11. Supersleuth Honey
12. Complicated Theories
13. An Old Romance
14. Captured!
15. Stranded
16. Danger at the Racetrack
17. A Celebration Party

## Trivia

* Regan is referred to as Bill Regan for the first time since #8 *The Black Jacket Mystery*, and we are told that he was hired to take care of the Wheeler's horses long before they moved to the Manor House (p. 14).
* Dan is said to have 'unruly dark hair' (p. 17), Jim, Brian and Mart have been away for the past fortnight working as counselors at camp and would not be back for another week (p. 20).  Di is away with her family in Arizona (p. 30).
* Trixie tells Honey and Dan to bring their bikes so they can ride to the library (p. 24).  Where is the Bob-White station wagon?  It's revealed later in the book that the boys drove it to summer camp.
* Honey reveals that she grew up afraid that her parents might die while they were away on a trip and she would be left an orphan and be sent to an orphanage similar to what is depicted in *Oliver Twist* (p. 35-36)
* Trixie remembers the bike-a-thon and helping Nick Roberts as they ride to the library, tying the events to the author's previous book #20 *The Mystery Off Telegraph Road* (p. 36-37)  She also refers to the time Trixie and Honey fought over Honey's cousin, Ben but refers to him as Ben Ryker - not Riker (p. 55-56).  It is not spelled this way in any previous books.
* Trixie finds a reference to Regan and Mr Worthington in the book "Off the Track - Behind the Scenes in the World of Professional Horse Racing" (p. 40-44).  It discusses the doping scandal involving Gadfly and names a red-haired groom as the chief suspect.
* Trixie tries to suggest that it may not be Regan, but Dan and Honey say there is no doubt (p. 47).  Normally, it would be Honey trying to be optimistic.
* 'Honey who was more than willing to admit her feeling of dependence on Jim...' inferring that Trixie was dependent on Jim, but wouldn't admit it (p. 64).
* Helen refers to Honey's hair as blond and this is also mentioned later in the book (p. 68).  I don't recall Honey ever being called a blond before, unlike Trixie.
* Carl Stinson, horse trainer, had been at Worthington Farms for more than twenty years and he met Regan when he was 16 and a runaway, looking for a job (p. 119).  Regan was 17 when the doping scandal occurred several years ago, making him 24 in this book.
* Regan sold his boots because he was short of cash, providing an important clue for Trixie and Honey (p. 93).  But why was he short of cash?  He had room and board at the Wheeler's, what exactly was he doing with his money?
* Joan Stinson tells Honey and Trixie that Regan was the man she loved (p. 167).  The claiming race was seven years ago, just after her mother died.  She was 16 and Regan was 17.  Trixie's thoughts indicate that she had wondered why Regan had never dated any of the eligible women in Sleepyside (p. 168).  Did Regan still love Joan?
* The book ends with much promise for Regan and Joan's relationship, but unfortunately Joan is not mentioned in any later books.

## References

1. ↑ "The Mystery at Saratoga." Trixie-belden.com. N.d. Retrieved September 5, 2021 from http://www.trixie-belden.com/books/series/book24.htm