BOOK DESCRIPTION
The powerful true story of the champion Thoroughbred racehorse who gained international fame in the tumultuous Civil War–era South, and became the most successful sire in American racing history
The early days of American horse racing were grueling. Four-mile races, run two or three times in succession, were the norm, rewarding horses who brandished the ideal combination of stamina and speed. The stallion Lexington, named after the city in Kentucky where he was born, possessed these winning qualities, which pioneering Americans prized.
Lexington shattered the world speed record for a four-mile race, showing a war-torn nation that the extraordinary was possible even in those perilous times. He would continue his winning career until deteriorating eyesight forced his retirement in 1855. But once his groundbreaking achievements as a racehorse ended, his role as a sire began. Horses from his bloodline won more money than the offspring of any other Thoroughbred—an annual success that led Lexington to be named America’s leading sire an unprecedented sixteen times.
Yet with the Civil War raging, Lexington’s years at a Kentucky stud farm were far from idyllic. Confederate soldiers ran amok, looting freely and kidnapping horses from the top stables. They soon focused on the prized Lexington and his valuable progeny.
Kim Wickens, a lawyer and dressage rider, became fascinated by this legendary horse when she learned that twelve of Thoroughbred racing’s thirteen Triple Crown winners descended from Lexington. Wickens spent years meticulously researching the horse and his legacy—and with Lexington, she presents an absorbing, exciting account that transports readers back to the raucous beginning of American horse racing and introduces them to the stallion at its heart.
BOOK REVIEW
I am a fan of the Triple Crown races and I was amazed that 12 of 13 Triple Crown winners can be traced back to Lexington. I definitely wanted to read his story. Lexington (originally named Darley) ran at a time when horses ran multiple four-mile heats, and while injured. It would be unheard of today. He passed his incredible stamina on to many Triple Crown winners, including Secretariat.
This book is a reminder that the modern-day racehorse is a descendant of war horses who rode fearlessly into battle. While today’s horse breeding is a pastime for the wealthy, and thoroughbreds are treated with great care, horses of the past worked hard and were constantly put in danger.
The contributions of the enslaved in pre-Civil War times are also explored. “Enslaved men and boys were the ones in the barns, riding the horses, feeding, medicating, and training.” In fact, Lexington’s first trainer was Harry Lewis, a formerly enslaved man who had been freed.
This book is meticulously researched and written with care. I especially enjoyed the story of how Lexington’s skeleton was rescued from an attic in the Smithsonian. Anyone who loves horses and racing will enjoy this book.
My rating is 4.35 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
From Kim Wickens: “I first became aware of Lexington while reading a book about the racehorse Man o’ War. The authors compared his inspiring public appeal to Lexington’s. “Both horses,” wrote Page Cooper and Roger Treat, “had that indescribable quality of greatness which lifted those who saw them out of their ordinary lives and made them conscious that they had witnessed something that would stir their memories as long as they lived.” I wanted to know more about the nineteenth century horse.”
BUY LINKS
Bonnie Reads and Writes 
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