October 17th


1777: American troops defeat the British in the Battle of Saratoga... but then they are forced to surrender when they bet all the captured British arms on a 17-1 shot at the local horse track.


1814: London Beer Flood occurs in London killing nine people... nine very happy people.


1965: The 1964-1965 New York World's Fair closes after a two year run. More than 51 million people had attended the two-year event... 25 million of whom contracted some form of venereal disease.