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Lexington: The Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America's Legendary Racehorse
“A vivid portrait of America’s greatest stallion, the larger-than-life men who raced and bred him, and the dramatic times in which they lived.”—Geraldine Brooks, author of Horse
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.
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.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published July 11, 2023
145 people are currently reading
6416 people want to read
About the author
Kim Wickens
1 book38 followersKim Wickens is the author of the narrative nonfiction book LEXINGTON: The Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America's Legendary Racehorse. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, Narrative Magazine, The Blood Horse, and The Paulick Report. A horse girl, Wickens owns three horses and rides in the dressage discipline. She lives in Lexington, Kentucky.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
July 10, 2023
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.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
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.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
December 2, 2023
A horse called Darley was born on a farm in Kentucky a decade before the Civil War; under the name Lexington, he broke the world record for speed and left an imprint on the world of American horse racing that persists to this very day.
I was never a horse girl, but in elementary school I had a phase in which I read a great deal of Marguerite Henry and Walter Farley. As such, I’ve probably seen about four horses close up throughout my life, but I’m always ready for a good horse story, and the tale of Lexington, a half blind stallion who changed American horse racing forever, is one.
Wickens weaves the story of Lexington with the turbulent times he lived through. Horse racing in the South was reaching a peak at the time of his career, and the days on which he raced could bring New Orleans to a standstill. Later on, the Civil War reaches out to touch even the idyllic farm where he lived as a stud stallion when a violent band of guerillas repeatedly raid it. The author’s clear adoration of horses and the intensity with which she tells the story had me racing through the book.
However, I did wonder if the story got a little disjointed at times. The Civil War section, while fascinating, has more to do with Lexington’s children than with him, and he doesn’t make much of an appearance. You rather feel that the colorful guerillas overshadow the horses. And then we lurch forward in time to the story of his skeleton – a convoluted one, to be sure, but it left me feeling a little like I was careening through so many exhibits that in places you lose sight of Lexington himself. But it all makes such a rollicking yarn that you can’t really complain.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
I was never a horse girl, but in elementary school I had a phase in which I read a great deal of Marguerite Henry and Walter Farley. As such, I’ve probably seen about four horses close up throughout my life, but I’m always ready for a good horse story, and the tale of Lexington, a half blind stallion who changed American horse racing forever, is one.
Wickens weaves the story of Lexington with the turbulent times he lived through. Horse racing in the South was reaching a peak at the time of his career, and the days on which he raced could bring New Orleans to a standstill. Later on, the Civil War reaches out to touch even the idyllic farm where he lived as a stud stallion when a violent band of guerillas repeatedly raid it. The author’s clear adoration of horses and the intensity with which she tells the story had me racing through the book.
However, I did wonder if the story got a little disjointed at times. The Civil War section, while fascinating, has more to do with Lexington’s children than with him, and he doesn’t make much of an appearance. You rather feel that the colorful guerillas overshadow the horses. And then we lurch forward in time to the story of his skeleton – a convoluted one, to be sure, but it left me feeling a little like I was careening through so many exhibits that in places you lose sight of Lexington himself. But it all makes such a rollicking yarn that you can’t really complain.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
May 9, 2023
I received an advance copy via NetGalley.
What a fascinating book! Lexington was, truly, the horse that began the modern American Thoroughbred. Wickens's incredible effort gives life to the horse that awed thousands upon thousands of people in his races. He was a horse with "bottom," as they said in the 19th century, one with an enduring spirit who lost none of his confidence even as he lost much of his sight. The historical context around him is intriguing, too. The book discusses the changing American racing industry, New Orleans, the British racing industry, and also spends quite a bit of time on the Civil War and the perils that Lexington and his farm endured due to Confederate guerilla raiders. This is really a great example of modern narrative nonfiction.
What a fascinating book! Lexington was, truly, the horse that began the modern American Thoroughbred. Wickens's incredible effort gives life to the horse that awed thousands upon thousands of people in his races. He was a horse with "bottom," as they said in the 19th century, one with an enduring spirit who lost none of his confidence even as he lost much of his sight. The historical context around him is intriguing, too. The book discusses the changing American racing industry, New Orleans, the British racing industry, and also spends quite a bit of time on the Civil War and the perils that Lexington and his farm endured due to Confederate guerilla raiders. This is really a great example of modern narrative nonfiction.
May 4, 2023
You don't have to bet on horses to know that life isn't fair, but it's as good a way to learn as any. In a perfectly fair world, Kim Wickens's LEXINGTON: THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND TURBULENT TIMES OF AMERICA'S LEGENDARY RACEHORSE would be judged entirely on its own merits. And those merits are very good indeed. Wickens has taken the story of a half-remembered racehorse from the antebellum era and infused it with new life, and glory to her.
But--heh heh heh--this ain't a fair world, now is it, and my best guess here is that many of you (most of you?) will react the same way that I did, which is to say that I enjoyed this book the first time I read it, when it was called SEABISCUIT. Which was a genuine hit at the time, a tour de force, a relentless bolt of lightning of a book,. Not to mention the affecting story of author Laura Hillenbrand and her personal travails with illness.
Now, I think that it is, you know, perfectly normal to think that, well, you've read one long book about a historical racehorse, and you don't have to read another. Which you don't. I mean, nobody is making you read anything here. You don't have to read at all! You can go into the kitchen and make oatmeal raisin cookies, and then eat a hot oatmeal raisin cookie out of the oven, and burn your tongue, and drink some milk to make your hurt tongue feel better, and then when your family gets back from dance lessons they will gripe because you didn't make chocolate chip cookies instead. So maybe reading was a good idea after all.
So, to get back on track for a second here, it is not only unfair to compare the Lexington book to the Seabiscuit book, it's reductionist and lazy. This is not just because these are two different books about two different horses in two different eras. This is because (deep breath here) they are entirely two different animals. So to speak. (Yes, I know they're both horses, shut up). The two books are different genres altogether.
SEABISCUIT is a memoir. It is written in incredibly skillful prose, with larger-than-life characters and tells the story that's only unfamiliar because we've forgotten about it, despite it being incredibly well-documented. And that's fine! Nothing wrong with that. But LEXINGTON is not that.
LEXINGTON (dropping the long subtitle here) is a history, which is different. It is not in any way lyrical, and certainly isn't romantic. Wickens doesn't have the advantages that Hillenbrand had--no one is alive who remembers seeing Lexington run, and the historical record is much thinner. To counterbalance things, LEXINGTON has a much broader scope, embracing the topics of enslaved jockeys and Quantrill's Raiders and nineteenth-century taxidermy. Hillenbrand is telling the story of a horse; Wickens is tracing the (surprisingly broad) impact of a horse on history.
Lexington raced in a racing era that isn't recognizable today, not least because his bloodline changed so much of it; Seabiscuit (among most other racehorses whose name you may know) is a descendant, so was the first Kentucky Derby winner. In the pre-war, pre-PETA era, Lexington ran not only four miles but multiple back-to-back four-mile heats. Lexington was hired by one of the great promoters of the era, and dominated the New Orleans tracks that were then the center of the racing world.
Lexington's career doesn't have quite the elan of Seabiscuit's--there aren't any celebrities or hundred-grand races, but it was a different era and in many ways more colorful. Where Hillenbrand gives short shrift to Seabiscuit's career as a stallion, Wickens extends her story far beyond Lexington's racing career to his impact as a sire--not only of racehorses but of warhorses. And Lexington has an issue to deal with that Seabiscuit never had--he loses his sight due to a heroic bout of overeating, of all things.
It was Twain who said that "It were not best that we should all think alike; it is difference of opinion that makes horse races." You can't help the comparison, unfair though it might be. I take the view that LEXINGTON does not, and need not, stand in the shadow of SEABISCUIT. Wickens has taken a single thread out of the nineteenth-century tapestry and embellished upon it, making it sparkle against the harsh background of slavery and war. If you only want to read one book about bygone racehorses, maybe you should consider reading two. Or making chocolate chip cookies this time.
But--heh heh heh--this ain't a fair world, now is it, and my best guess here is that many of you (most of you?) will react the same way that I did, which is to say that I enjoyed this book the first time I read it, when it was called SEABISCUIT. Which was a genuine hit at the time, a tour de force, a relentless bolt of lightning of a book,. Not to mention the affecting story of author Laura Hillenbrand and her personal travails with illness.
Now, I think that it is, you know, perfectly normal to think that, well, you've read one long book about a historical racehorse, and you don't have to read another. Which you don't. I mean, nobody is making you read anything here. You don't have to read at all! You can go into the kitchen and make oatmeal raisin cookies, and then eat a hot oatmeal raisin cookie out of the oven, and burn your tongue, and drink some milk to make your hurt tongue feel better, and then when your family gets back from dance lessons they will gripe because you didn't make chocolate chip cookies instead. So maybe reading was a good idea after all.
So, to get back on track for a second here, it is not only unfair to compare the Lexington book to the Seabiscuit book, it's reductionist and lazy. This is not just because these are two different books about two different horses in two different eras. This is because (deep breath here) they are entirely two different animals. So to speak. (Yes, I know they're both horses, shut up). The two books are different genres altogether.
SEABISCUIT is a memoir. It is written in incredibly skillful prose, with larger-than-life characters and tells the story that's only unfamiliar because we've forgotten about it, despite it being incredibly well-documented. And that's fine! Nothing wrong with that. But LEXINGTON is not that.
LEXINGTON (dropping the long subtitle here) is a history, which is different. It is not in any way lyrical, and certainly isn't romantic. Wickens doesn't have the advantages that Hillenbrand had--no one is alive who remembers seeing Lexington run, and the historical record is much thinner. To counterbalance things, LEXINGTON has a much broader scope, embracing the topics of enslaved jockeys and Quantrill's Raiders and nineteenth-century taxidermy. Hillenbrand is telling the story of a horse; Wickens is tracing the (surprisingly broad) impact of a horse on history.
Lexington raced in a racing era that isn't recognizable today, not least because his bloodline changed so much of it; Seabiscuit (among most other racehorses whose name you may know) is a descendant, so was the first Kentucky Derby winner. In the pre-war, pre-PETA era, Lexington ran not only four miles but multiple back-to-back four-mile heats. Lexington was hired by one of the great promoters of the era, and dominated the New Orleans tracks that were then the center of the racing world.
Lexington's career doesn't have quite the elan of Seabiscuit's--there aren't any celebrities or hundred-grand races, but it was a different era and in many ways more colorful. Where Hillenbrand gives short shrift to Seabiscuit's career as a stallion, Wickens extends her story far beyond Lexington's racing career to his impact as a sire--not only of racehorses but of warhorses. And Lexington has an issue to deal with that Seabiscuit never had--he loses his sight due to a heroic bout of overeating, of all things.
It was Twain who said that "It were not best that we should all think alike; it is difference of opinion that makes horse races." You can't help the comparison, unfair though it might be. I take the view that LEXINGTON does not, and need not, stand in the shadow of SEABISCUIT. Wickens has taken a single thread out of the nineteenth-century tapestry and embellished upon it, making it sparkle against the harsh background of slavery and war. If you only want to read one book about bygone racehorses, maybe you should consider reading two. Or making chocolate chip cookies this time.
May 4, 2024
Horse by Geraldine Brooks was my favorite book I read in 2023 and Lexington by Kim Wickens was a great follow up read this year. It’s the nonfiction version, detailing America’s legendary racehorse, Lexington, who rose to fame in the 1850s.
Lexington broke records for his impressive speed and spectators traveled great distances to watch him. Lexington’s failing eyesight ultimately forced him into retirement where he then began breeding other Thoroughbreds. Horses from Lexington’s bloodline were sought after and many from his lineage have had successful racing careers.
During such a turbulent time in American history, when confederate soldiers were raiding stables and stealing horses, it’s easy for me to see why so many people turned to horse racing for enjoyment and a temporary distraction.
Kim Wickens’ research of Lexington is extensive and impressive. I enjoyed listening to Lexington, recalling information from Horse and learning more here.
Lexington broke records for his impressive speed and spectators traveled great distances to watch him. Lexington’s failing eyesight ultimately forced him into retirement where he then began breeding other Thoroughbreds. Horses from Lexington’s bloodline were sought after and many from his lineage have had successful racing careers.
During such a turbulent time in American history, when confederate soldiers were raiding stables and stealing horses, it’s easy for me to see why so many people turned to horse racing for enjoyment and a temporary distraction.
Kim Wickens’ research of Lexington is extensive and impressive. I enjoyed listening to Lexington, recalling information from Horse and learning more here.
December 30, 2024
The lore around this horse is insane. Cool read, if I ever win the lottery might I race horses?
April 4, 2023
Kim Wickens' meticulous and exciting story of 19th century horse racing is told through the experience of the remarkable Lexington, who may already be familiar to you. The Thoroughbred is one of the heroes of Geraldine Brooks' "Horse"--a terrific book, but "Lexington" is even more un-put-downable as Wickens dives into the world of antebellum gambling and entertainment. What a treat!
Horse racing was hugely popular in early America, and betting on horses racing down a dirt road or around a track was the main form of entertainment. It was different from modern racing in that horses ran four mile heats, rested 45 minutes and ran another four miles. In this format, no horse was faster than Lexington. Racing tracks began to pop up all over the south with some fine tracks in the north as well. We meet the characters who built the tracks and owned the horses, learn how horses were transported on riverboats and trains, and see Lexington lose his sight and continue to race until he is retired to stud.
That should be the end of the story, right? Not at all. The horse's post retirement life, (as he becomes a great-great granddaddy of great racers) troubles during the Civil War, and postmortem story are all completely gripping.. Chaos swirls around him, but Lexington remains a firm center, joyfully running like the wind, covering mares and rolling in the Kentucky bluegrass. This book is a model of great non-fiction.
So many thinks to Ballantine and Netgalley for reaching out to me to review this book. I loved every page.
Horse racing was hugely popular in early America, and betting on horses racing down a dirt road or around a track was the main form of entertainment. It was different from modern racing in that horses ran four mile heats, rested 45 minutes and ran another four miles. In this format, no horse was faster than Lexington. Racing tracks began to pop up all over the south with some fine tracks in the north as well. We meet the characters who built the tracks and owned the horses, learn how horses were transported on riverboats and trains, and see Lexington lose his sight and continue to race until he is retired to stud.
That should be the end of the story, right? Not at all. The horse's post retirement life, (as he becomes a great-great granddaddy of great racers) troubles during the Civil War, and postmortem story are all completely gripping.. Chaos swirls around him, but Lexington remains a firm center, joyfully running like the wind, covering mares and rolling in the Kentucky bluegrass. This book is a model of great non-fiction.
So many thinks to Ballantine and Netgalley for reaching out to me to review this book. I loved every page.
April 8, 2023
Lexington by Kim Wickens
Wonderful book! I’ve been a horse lover since a child, so this book was one I had been interested in reading. I had really never heard of Lexington, or didn’t pay attention to any references I had come across before. This is quite a fantastic story about a horse who raced and won, despite some early health issues. I didn’t realize that horses raced four miles in that time period. He even set beat the record for the fastest four miles. It’s hard to believe that he accomplished so much with eyesight problems. It makes you wonder what more he could have accomplished. The author delves into a lot of history in this book. Some of it was a little hard to grind through, but she definitely did a ton of research! It was very well written. At the end of the book, she has researched how Lexington is in the pedigrees of so many racehorses. That was very interesting. If you love horses and have even a small interest in racehorses and racing, you will definitely enjoy this book. I highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Wonderful book! I’ve been a horse lover since a child, so this book was one I had been interested in reading. I had really never heard of Lexington, or didn’t pay attention to any references I had come across before. This is quite a fantastic story about a horse who raced and won, despite some early health issues. I didn’t realize that horses raced four miles in that time period. He even set beat the record for the fastest four miles. It’s hard to believe that he accomplished so much with eyesight problems. It makes you wonder what more he could have accomplished. The author delves into a lot of history in this book. Some of it was a little hard to grind through, but she definitely did a ton of research! It was very well written. At the end of the book, she has researched how Lexington is in the pedigrees of so many racehorses. That was very interesting. If you love horses and have even a small interest in racehorses and racing, you will definitely enjoy this book. I highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are my own.
March 4, 2024
3.5 stars
After being dissatisfied about how certain plot events unraveled in Horse, I wanted to find a book that focused mainly on the horse in question, Lexington. And this book popped up right when I needed it.
The amount of research that went into this book is quite impressive. There are newspaper clippings, brochure snippets, paintings, and pictures sprinkled throughout the chapters which helped bring more clarity and visual emphasis on things the author wanted to focus on. She really brought to life how important and impactful this horse was to thoroughbred racing and the breed from the past to modern day.
My favorite sections were, obviously, centered around Lexington's racing career which detailed the horse's personality, the training the horse went through, and the complete ease he steamrolled through his competition. The public adoration and reception of the horse was included which helped shaped how it affected not only his career but how he is now fondly remembered. All the major players of the horse's life are given backgrounds and was really helpful in seeing how horse racing was regarded during that time.
I do wish some of the more intimate members of the horse like his groom, who would interact and handle Lexington every day, or his jockey, who is the one who piloted this horse to the upper echelon, were given more page time. They deserve to have their own spotlight in history too but perhaps there was not enough record to draw off of.
There were some chapters that focused on the Civil War and how this in turn affected the horse and the farm he lived at but I thought they strayed to far away from the connection with Lexington. Sure, it's a very important moment in history but some of the information brought up feels only tangentially related and I was losing a lot of interest. There was a lot of build up for only brief actual direct mentions of Lexington.
After that section though, my interest ramped right back up because it delved on Lexington's lasting influence through his offspring. You really understand the scope of how much this horse permeates through modern racing lines. Then, as mentioned in the fictional book, there is a part that details the forgotten whereabouts of the horse's skeleton after he was given to the Smithsonian Institution. I thought it was fascinating how a horse so loved is now kept in perpetual memory via the display of his bones to the public.
Really good read and recommended for anyone who loves horse racing and wanted to delve more into some of the historical figures.
I originally had an eArc from NetGalley but I finished this read from the physical book.
After being dissatisfied about how certain plot events unraveled in Horse, I wanted to find a book that focused mainly on the horse in question, Lexington. And this book popped up right when I needed it.
The amount of research that went into this book is quite impressive. There are newspaper clippings, brochure snippets, paintings, and pictures sprinkled throughout the chapters which helped bring more clarity and visual emphasis on things the author wanted to focus on. She really brought to life how important and impactful this horse was to thoroughbred racing and the breed from the past to modern day.
My favorite sections were, obviously, centered around Lexington's racing career which detailed the horse's personality, the training the horse went through, and the complete ease he steamrolled through his competition. The public adoration and reception of the horse was included which helped shaped how it affected not only his career but how he is now fondly remembered. All the major players of the horse's life are given backgrounds and was really helpful in seeing how horse racing was regarded during that time.
I do wish some of the more intimate members of the horse like his groom, who would interact and handle Lexington every day, or his jockey, who is the one who piloted this horse to the upper echelon, were given more page time. They deserve to have their own spotlight in history too but perhaps there was not enough record to draw off of.
There were some chapters that focused on the Civil War and how this in turn affected the horse and the farm he lived at but I thought they strayed to far away from the connection with Lexington. Sure, it's a very important moment in history but some of the information brought up feels only tangentially related and I was losing a lot of interest. There was a lot of build up for only brief actual direct mentions of Lexington.
After that section though, my interest ramped right back up because it delved on Lexington's lasting influence through his offspring. You really understand the scope of how much this horse permeates through modern racing lines. Then, as mentioned in the fictional book, there is a part that details the forgotten whereabouts of the horse's skeleton after he was given to the Smithsonian Institution. I thought it was fascinating how a horse so loved is now kept in perpetual memory via the display of his bones to the public.
Really good read and recommended for anyone who loves horse racing and wanted to delve more into some of the historical figures.
I originally had an eArc from NetGalley but I finished this read from the physical book.
July 21, 2024
Interesting book.Horse racing was the most popular sport in America up until the Civil War. From there, it remained in the top five sports until 1990. It's surprising how little is known about its most important horses.
One of these key figures was Lexington (1850-1875). The races back then were quite different from today's. They ran four miles over three heats with a 45-minute break between each race. The horse that won the most heats was declared the winner. Horses were bred for endurance and stamina, often referred to as "bottom."
The four-mile race played a crucial role in the early development of horse racing in the U.S. While the sport has evolved towards shorter races, the legacy of these endurance contests remains a significant chapter in horse racing history.
Lexington won six of his seven races and finished second once. On April 2, 1855, at the Metairie racecourse in New Orleans, he set a record by running four miles in 7 minutes, 19¾ seconds, running against time. Lexington had to be retired at the end of 1855 due to poor eyesight. His sire, Boston, had also gone blind.
But the true legacy of Lexington was his stud record. Lexington became the leading sire in North America sixteen times, from 1861 through 1874. In all, Lexington sired 236 winners who won 1,176 races, finished second 348 times, and third 42 times.
All of the Triple Crown winners can trace their lineage back to Lexington. These pedigrees are a testament to the enduring influence of Lexington and other foundational sires in thoroughbred racing. The bloodlines of these historic horses continue to shape the sport, highlighting the importance of lineage in breeding champion racehorses.
This book offers a great story about a piece of American history that doesn't get a lot of attention. The story of the horse during the civil war is also intertwined.
If you are curious about this slice of American history, I would recommend this read.
One of these key figures was Lexington (1850-1875). The races back then were quite different from today's. They ran four miles over three heats with a 45-minute break between each race. The horse that won the most heats was declared the winner. Horses were bred for endurance and stamina, often referred to as "bottom."
The four-mile race played a crucial role in the early development of horse racing in the U.S. While the sport has evolved towards shorter races, the legacy of these endurance contests remains a significant chapter in horse racing history.
Lexington won six of his seven races and finished second once. On April 2, 1855, at the Metairie racecourse in New Orleans, he set a record by running four miles in 7 minutes, 19¾ seconds, running against time. Lexington had to be retired at the end of 1855 due to poor eyesight. His sire, Boston, had also gone blind.
But the true legacy of Lexington was his stud record. Lexington became the leading sire in North America sixteen times, from 1861 through 1874. In all, Lexington sired 236 winners who won 1,176 races, finished second 348 times, and third 42 times.
All of the Triple Crown winners can trace their lineage back to Lexington. These pedigrees are a testament to the enduring influence of Lexington and other foundational sires in thoroughbred racing. The bloodlines of these historic horses continue to shape the sport, highlighting the importance of lineage in breeding champion racehorses.
This book offers a great story about a piece of American history that doesn't get a lot of attention. The story of the horse during the civil war is also intertwined.
If you are curious about this slice of American history, I would recommend this read.
January 5, 2025
I am beyond thankful for Kim Wickens writing this incredible work. Having grown up around horse racing in Central KY, the myth of Lexington is everywhere and has always been a ghost that’s haunted me. This telling of his story, an incredible story of an incredible animal and the people around him, has really blessed me in connecting with my old Kentucky home far away. The story is amazing on its own, but Wickens does an incredible job telling it and honoring the characters within it. Even if you’re not into horses or racing, this story will enrapture you and I cannot recommend enough.
August 7, 2023
For fans of Seabiscuit AND the Civil War and turf history, this was a fascinating read that was more like several shorter books in one. Lexington's racing career didnt last nearly as long as his career as a stud, but both were impressive. And what crazy people were running around Kentucky during the Civil War, wreaking havoc! There are some good book ideas in there, for those interested.
August 24, 2023
Lexington is an image and an icon. His portrait, painted by the great 19th-century equine artist Edward Troye, greets visitors to the city of Lexington, Kentucky (albeit in a blue-hued version that probably had Troye spinning in his grave when it was first put out); his skeleton is the centerpiece of the International Museum of the Horse’s permanent Thoroughbred in Kentucky exhibit. When leading Thoroughbred periodical The Blood-Horse needed a design for the front cover of its annual Stallion Register, it was Lexington who was chosen to grace a reference used by decades of breeders in choosing stallions for their mares.
Although much has been written regarding Lexington, most of it has touched briefly on his racing career before turning to his monumental achievements as a sire. It is no exaggeration to say that the blood of Lexington was the foundation of the American Thoroughbred in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; sixteen times the nation’s leading sire, he was probably even more influential as a broodmare sire. Nonetheless, before Lexington was a stallion, he was a racehorse, and one of the most remarkable ever to set hoof on a track. This is the reality brought to vivid life by Kim Wickens in her book Lexington: The Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America’s Legendary Racehorse (2023, Ballantine Books).
Lexington’s story is inextricably intertwined with that of his owner, Richard Ten Broeck, the leading racecourse manager and promoter of the mid-19th century, and that of Robert Aitcheson Alexander, who purchased Lexington in the aftermath of the horse’s racing career to be the premier stallion at his Woodburn Farm. These interlocked strands are portrayed with rare skill by Wickens, who successfully interweaves them with both the minutiae of the procedures of horse racing and training of that era and the sweeping scope of the social and political tensions of the antebellum South and Civil War-torn Kentucky. The chapters centering around the guerilla rampages of 1864-1865 and Robert Alexander’s desperate attempts to preserve Lexington and Woodburn in the face of these threats are particularly gripping, portraying a microcosm of the devastation being wrought on Kentucky’s agrarian society and its ordinary citizens. No attempt is made to sugar-coat the terror of those years or the atrocities that took place, but Wickens skillfully moves her narrative beyond the horrors into the peaceful years of the rebuilding of Woodburn and the concluding decade of Lexington’s life, which saw him become the most successful American stallion of all time.
Lexington’s personal story did not conclude with his death, for his bones—which were exhumed and articulated for display at the Centennial Exposition of 1876 in Philadelphia—had a tale of their own to tell, and Wickens follows that tale to a satisfying conclusion with Lexington’s return to his home state and city after more than a century. Throughout her book, Wickens never loses sight of either Lexington as a horse or Lexington as a symbol of his time, of a sport, of a city, and of an industry that, more than any other, defines Kentucky. For those who love the Thoroughbred or are interested in either the history of racing in the antebellum South or the history and heritage of Kentucky, Lexington is essential reading than belongs on the shelf of both the horse lover and the historian.
Although much has been written regarding Lexington, most of it has touched briefly on his racing career before turning to his monumental achievements as a sire. It is no exaggeration to say that the blood of Lexington was the foundation of the American Thoroughbred in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; sixteen times the nation’s leading sire, he was probably even more influential as a broodmare sire. Nonetheless, before Lexington was a stallion, he was a racehorse, and one of the most remarkable ever to set hoof on a track. This is the reality brought to vivid life by Kim Wickens in her book Lexington: The Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America’s Legendary Racehorse (2023, Ballantine Books).
Lexington’s story is inextricably intertwined with that of his owner, Richard Ten Broeck, the leading racecourse manager and promoter of the mid-19th century, and that of Robert Aitcheson Alexander, who purchased Lexington in the aftermath of the horse’s racing career to be the premier stallion at his Woodburn Farm. These interlocked strands are portrayed with rare skill by Wickens, who successfully interweaves them with both the minutiae of the procedures of horse racing and training of that era and the sweeping scope of the social and political tensions of the antebellum South and Civil War-torn Kentucky. The chapters centering around the guerilla rampages of 1864-1865 and Robert Alexander’s desperate attempts to preserve Lexington and Woodburn in the face of these threats are particularly gripping, portraying a microcosm of the devastation being wrought on Kentucky’s agrarian society and its ordinary citizens. No attempt is made to sugar-coat the terror of those years or the atrocities that took place, but Wickens skillfully moves her narrative beyond the horrors into the peaceful years of the rebuilding of Woodburn and the concluding decade of Lexington’s life, which saw him become the most successful American stallion of all time.
Lexington’s personal story did not conclude with his death, for his bones—which were exhumed and articulated for display at the Centennial Exposition of 1876 in Philadelphia—had a tale of their own to tell, and Wickens follows that tale to a satisfying conclusion with Lexington’s return to his home state and city after more than a century. Throughout her book, Wickens never loses sight of either Lexington as a horse or Lexington as a symbol of his time, of a sport, of a city, and of an industry that, more than any other, defines Kentucky. For those who love the Thoroughbred or are interested in either the history of racing in the antebellum South or the history and heritage of Kentucky, Lexington is essential reading than belongs on the shelf of both the horse lover and the historian.
July 29, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
I was excited to find this because I had just finished reading Horse by Geraldine Brooks, and this was the perfect addition to learn more about the history of Lexington. It was beautifully written, like a story more than dry historical facts, which I think is the best way to learn something!
I was excited to find this because I had just finished reading Horse by Geraldine Brooks, and this was the perfect addition to learn more about the history of Lexington. It was beautifully written, like a story more than dry historical facts, which I think is the best way to learn something!
February 22, 2024
I always want the last book I read to be my favorite. This time it may be true. I fancy myself an experienced critic of narrative nonfiction. I will put “Lexington” at the top of that list. Even if you are not a horse lover or Civil War history hobbyist this book should make you a fan of narrative nonfiction. I respectfully enjoyed Kim Wickens’ first effort as much as any of the greats in this genre(?). Even as she unfolded the story she kept the reader confident in her documentation without being dry and academic. She makes it clear that she is drawing from sources- letters, journals, business records, court proceedings, etc.- without distraction. And she makes us more confident- and grateful- when she affirms that, though there is no record, this what could have happened. By the end I was as enthralled by her Epilogue and Acknowledgments as by the story I had already read. I am grateful to her for revealing and enriching the amazing story and legacy of “Lexington”. (btw- while I learned of Lexington by reading the historical fiction, “Horse” (Geraldine Brooks) I find myself wishing that I read “Lexington” first, as he is the hero of the story)
July 25, 2025
Little Darley, the horse you came to be
June 24, 2023
For this and all my other book reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com
Recently I read Horse by Geraldine Brooks, which is an historical fiction account of Lexington. (Review to come!), who says this book is “A vivid portrait of America’s greatest stallion, the larger-than-life men who raced and bred him, and the dramatic times in which they lived.” I’d have to agree.
I love watching the Triple Crown every year. Even when there’s no chance of a Triple Crown winner, you’ll find my husband and myself watching The Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes. If I remember, in the fall, I watch the Breeder’s Cup. I’m a casual fan, and have read about the history of the races and certain horses, but I had never heard of Lexington. It’s time that this and future generations learn about this extraordinary horse in racing history.
If you’re expecting another book with soaring prose like Seabiscuit, you’d be wrong. The book reads more like a story than a non-fiction book, like Seabiscuit, but that book was more memoir than historical record. Lexington is a history of the modern thoroughbred in America, not just about the horse but the people surrounding him: his owners, his trainers, his black jockeys, and his offspring.
You don’t have to love horse racing like I do to be interested in how the sport changed with the introduction of Darley, later named Lexington after the city he came from. He was an exceptionally strong and fast horse, who ran the fastest 4-mile race in history on a terrible track that chewed up his shoes and feet. He was at a disadvantage while racing, because improper care during an illness had left him completely blind in one eye and failing sight in the other. Somehow, Lexington still managed to run faster than any other horse.
The impact of Lexington as a sire is extraordinary: of the thirteen Triple Crown winners, 12 have lineage that leads back to Lexington. Of the first 20 of the major races held including the Triple Crown, the Saratoga Stakes, the Kentucky Oaks and Travers Stakes, his descendants won most of the races. His legacy lives on to this day in the most of the Horse of the Year selections, including 2022’s pick: Flightline.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Ballantine Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Lexington will be released July 2023.
Recently I read Horse by Geraldine Brooks, which is an historical fiction account of Lexington. (Review to come!), who says this book is “A vivid portrait of America’s greatest stallion, the larger-than-life men who raced and bred him, and the dramatic times in which they lived.” I’d have to agree.
I love watching the Triple Crown every year. Even when there’s no chance of a Triple Crown winner, you’ll find my husband and myself watching The Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes. If I remember, in the fall, I watch the Breeder’s Cup. I’m a casual fan, and have read about the history of the races and certain horses, but I had never heard of Lexington. It’s time that this and future generations learn about this extraordinary horse in racing history.
If you’re expecting another book with soaring prose like Seabiscuit, you’d be wrong. The book reads more like a story than a non-fiction book, like Seabiscuit, but that book was more memoir than historical record. Lexington is a history of the modern thoroughbred in America, not just about the horse but the people surrounding him: his owners, his trainers, his black jockeys, and his offspring.
You don’t have to love horse racing like I do to be interested in how the sport changed with the introduction of Darley, later named Lexington after the city he came from. He was an exceptionally strong and fast horse, who ran the fastest 4-mile race in history on a terrible track that chewed up his shoes and feet. He was at a disadvantage while racing, because improper care during an illness had left him completely blind in one eye and failing sight in the other. Somehow, Lexington still managed to run faster than any other horse.
The impact of Lexington as a sire is extraordinary: of the thirteen Triple Crown winners, 12 have lineage that leads back to Lexington. Of the first 20 of the major races held including the Triple Crown, the Saratoga Stakes, the Kentucky Oaks and Travers Stakes, his descendants won most of the races. His legacy lives on to this day in the most of the Horse of the Year selections, including 2022’s pick: Flightline.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Ballantine Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Lexington will be released July 2023.
August 23, 2023
I’m sure Kim Wickens owes much of her book’s sales success to Geraldine Brooks’ historical fiction novel Horse. It is the main reason I wanted to read this non-fiction account of the life of Lexington, the extraordinary horse who won the hearts and minds of the nation in the mid 19th century. Brooks brings his story to life and Wickens chronicles the historical backdrop of his life.
I admit that I had little interest in the backstories of Lexington’s owners and found myself impatient through the first few chapters. I feel there was too much time and attention spent on gambling on riverboats, the dapper suits worn by wealthy men and the details, down to one-button gloves, worn by the women going to the racetrack. While Wickens does bring up the predominant use of black jockeys during this time, I feel it takes too long to get to the early life of Lexington. I almost gave up reading but I was still hoping to learn more about the life of the horse and knew she had to get to him at some point.
And so the book became more interesting then. The reader doesn’t really get to focus much on Lexington himself until he appears as a racehorse. I enjoyed her descriptions of his strength, grace and courage. I was fascinated by the science behind a horse’s eyesight and how Lexington coped with going blind. I was also engrossed by the intense need for fresh horses during the Civil War and the cat and mouse game played by owners who wanted to preserve the lives of their prize thoroughbreds.
Wickens chronicles Lexington’s life after being retired from racing, highlighting his breeding prowess and the great success of so many of his progeny. I found myself still skimming through extraneous historical detail (for me) and thoroughly enjoying the mythic proportions of Lexington’s impact on thoroughbred racing in America.
3.5 stars rounded up.
I admit that I had little interest in the backstories of Lexington’s owners and found myself impatient through the first few chapters. I feel there was too much time and attention spent on gambling on riverboats, the dapper suits worn by wealthy men and the details, down to one-button gloves, worn by the women going to the racetrack. While Wickens does bring up the predominant use of black jockeys during this time, I feel it takes too long to get to the early life of Lexington. I almost gave up reading but I was still hoping to learn more about the life of the horse and knew she had to get to him at some point.
And so the book became more interesting then. The reader doesn’t really get to focus much on Lexington himself until he appears as a racehorse. I enjoyed her descriptions of his strength, grace and courage. I was fascinated by the science behind a horse’s eyesight and how Lexington coped with going blind. I was also engrossed by the intense need for fresh horses during the Civil War and the cat and mouse game played by owners who wanted to preserve the lives of their prize thoroughbreds.
Wickens chronicles Lexington’s life after being retired from racing, highlighting his breeding prowess and the great success of so many of his progeny. I found myself still skimming through extraneous historical detail (for me) and thoroughly enjoying the mythic proportions of Lexington’s impact on thoroughbred racing in America.
3.5 stars rounded up.
August 8, 2023
2023. 416 pages. Equine history. Civil War history. This book is non-fiction that almost reads like an novel. This is the fascinating true story of the Thoroughbred racehorse Lexington and his owners, Dr. Elisha Warfield, Ten Broeck and Robert A. Alexander. Warfield bred, the famous stallion, Boston, to his mare Alice Carnell. Darley(Lexington.) was born in 1850. Warfield named the stallion Darley, and was first leased to, Harry Lewis, a freed Black man. Ten Broeck bought Darley from Warfield and renamed him Lexington. Lexington raced only seven times, winning six, and he also set a record for 4 miles in 7 minutes and 19 3/4 seconds. Horses in the 1800’s often raced 4 mile heats. Lexington was known for his stamina and his speed. Lexington had to be retired in 1855 due to blindness. When Lexington retired Broeck sold him to Robert A. Alexander for 15,000. This is believed to be the most ever paid for a horse at the time. Alexander owned Woodburn farm in Kentucky and bred Lexington to his own mares as well as others. During the Civil War, Alexander‘s farm was under attack often due marauders looking for good horses. Several of Lexington‘s offspring were stolen, some never to return. Lexington‘s legacy was in his offspring. He was the leading sire in North America for an unprecedented 16 years. There have been only 13 Triple Crown winners since 1919. 12 of the winners descended from Lexington. 17 of the first 20 Kentucky Derby winners descended from Lexington. During the past 10 years, almost every horse, who won the title Horse of the Year, descended from Lexington.
And the list goes on. Lexington died on July 1, 1875 due to an infection in his jaw. His skeleton was donated to the Smithsonian Institution where it was rarely displayed. In 2010, Lexington was returned home, and is on display now at the International Museum of the Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park.
And the list goes on. Lexington died on July 1, 1875 due to an infection in his jaw. His skeleton was donated to the Smithsonian Institution where it was rarely displayed. In 2010, Lexington was returned home, and is on display now at the International Museum of the Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park.
May 28, 2023
I was given an advance reading copy (arc) of the book from the publisher and NetGalley.com in return for a fair review. I would have never picked this book to read on my own, but when the publisher asked if I would read it, I agreed. I am so glad I did. Lexington is a well-researched and well-written book about the famous racehorse that didn't let blindness or illness keep him from not only winning races, but siring hundreds and hundreds of offspring. Even today, many of the most successful racehorses can trace their bloodline back to Lexington. In addition, author Kim Wickens introduced us to Richard Ten Broeck who went from being expelled from West Point to one of the most successful racetrack owners in history. He not only bought Lexington but gave him that famous name. He then sold the horse to another breeder, Robert Aitcheson Alexander. Alexander was a physically frail man who saw the breeding potential in Lexington. He brought the horse to Kentucky where his horse farm, Woodburn, was located. In addition to Lexington's story, Wickens not only details the evolution of horseracing in America, but also the events of the Civil War when soldiers as well as outlaws were stealing horses from their breeders. Lexington, Ten Broeck, and Alexander were all underdogs at some point, but they rose up to any occasion presented. Put together, it all makes a fine tale that keeps the reader's interest.
August 25, 2024
For those who do not have a large understanding of horse racing as an industry or even the history of it particularly when it comes to the period before and after the Civil War, Kim Wickens' "Lexington: The Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America's Legendary Racehorse" is a fantastic introduction to things as well as perhaps one of the most famous horses to call the Bluegrass State home. Wickens book begins with the heritage of Lexington as well as goes through the process of explaining the owners of the horse as well as what it meant to be a racehorse during this timeframe which is far different than the world we know today. Every step of the journey, both good and bad, will at times leave you as a reader speechless especially into the Civil War period where horse farms were raided for their "good horses" with no regards to the owners of them either. What I also appreciate is the fact that the author goes into the children & even grandchildren of this horse as well the complicated and bizarre story of the remains of this horse which eventually lead it back home to Lexington & the International Museum of the Horse at the Lexington Horse Park in Lexington, KY. A very well written and fascinating novel that anyone with a love of horses or little knowledge of will enjoy.
September 16, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. I have loved horses ever since I can remember, took riding lessons on a one-eyed pony named Sir, and, though I have never had a horse of my own, I have often had access to these beautiful creatures. While I may not necessarily approve of how the racing community seems to run, in generalities, these days, there is no denying horses are a joy to watch, whether meandering around their paddock or galloping full-bore out in a wide field. The author has put many years of research and heart into this piece of work and I’m glad I stuck with it through the not-so-horse-related parts.
August 29, 2025
Rating - 5 Stars
As you may have seen in other reviews, I don't read much non-fiction. But I've finally found a non-fiction book that I LOVE.
I'm a horse girly to my core. I rode horses as a teen and have a deep love for horses. This book was a fascinating look into the history of American horse racing and the American Thoroughbred. I enjoyed the style of writing. Wickens wove a perfect mix between hard, direct facts and more editorialized tellings of events. The lore around Lexington fascinated me. He is truly among the greats of horses in American history.
If you too are a horse girl, I would highly recommend this book!!
As you may have seen in other reviews, I don't read much non-fiction. But I've finally found a non-fiction book that I LOVE.
I'm a horse girly to my core. I rode horses as a teen and have a deep love for horses. This book was a fascinating look into the history of American horse racing and the American Thoroughbred. I enjoyed the style of writing. Wickens wove a perfect mix between hard, direct facts and more editorialized tellings of events. The lore around Lexington fascinated me. He is truly among the greats of horses in American history.
If you too are a horse girl, I would highly recommend this book!!
March 18, 2024
I read Lexington by Kim Wickens after reading Horse by Geraldine Brooks. It is a nonfiction account of the champion race horse, Lexington, upon which Brooks's book is written. It also goes deeply into horse racing during its infancy in the 1800s including how it was affected by the Civil War. Lexington parallels Horse in many ways but leaves out the groomer, Jarrett, who, according to Brooks's book, was the main influence in Lexington's life. I found this concerning and you will see why if you read both books. I can only hope it was a fictional character created by Brooks and not an oversight by Wickens. As I find with nonfiction, the book is dry in some parts so your liking of it will be based on your interest in the subject mater.
April 26, 2025
Lexington is 40% interesting history, 60% insufficient journalism. I would propose “Likely” as an alternate title because the word was used as many or more times than “Lexington.” At times the author employed supposition and editorialization to such a degree as to call into question the veracity of the whole. Disappointing, because there was enough there for an enjoyable story that would’ve been a much more palatable length without all the added opinion and assumption.
June 1, 2025
If it were possible this would be a 10 star book. This is in my top 3 books of 2025. I wish my father was alive to discuss this book with and also to be able to give him the book to read. He would have absolutely loved it! The history of this unbelievable horse is fascinating beyond belief. If you love race horses and have an interest in them I believe you will enjoy this book.
December 27, 2023
Wow! So well researched. I read this slowly, as there is so many horses and owners and history in here. I know where my next road trip will be! At times, it got a little confusing trying to follow the Lexington and all the bloodlines, but well worth the journey!
August 29, 2023
Highly recommend this book about one of the greatest sires of all time, Lexington. Kim Wickens did a masterful job researching and detailing the history of this horse and the time period. Fascinating and well written nonfiction story about many characters.
July 9, 2024
Absolutely fascinating account on America’s most legendary racehorse. This book was meticulously researched and well thought out.
January 25, 2025
I read this as a follow up to Horse, a novel about the same horse. It was interesting to note the differences between reality and fiction, but on the whole this was an extremely dense book and could have been edited more ruthlessly for readability. A fascinating story that gets bogged down in waaaaaay too many details and tangents.
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