Lexington: The Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America's Legendary Racehorse

by Wickens, Kim
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ISBN: 9780593496701
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Overview

The dramatic true story of the champion Thoroughbred racehorse who gained international fame in the tumultuous, Civil War-era South, despite going nearly blind, and became the most successful sire in American racing history.

The early days of American horse-racing were punishing. Four-mile heats--races four miles long, run two or three times in succession!--were the norm, rewarding horses with the ideal combination of stamina and speed, attributes that pioneering Americans prized. The stallion Lexington, named after the city in Kentucky where he was born, exemplified these winning qualities to become a beacon of hope for people of all levels of society.

After shattering the world speed record for a four-mile race, Lexington continued 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 sire--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, including Lexington's undefeated son, Asteroid, and other horses from his valuable bloodline.

Kim Wickens, a lawyer and dressage rider, became fascinated by Lexington when she learned he had sired twelve out of thirteen of Thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown winners. She spent years meticulously researching the horse and his legacy--and with Lexington, she presents an absorbing, exciting account that will transport you back to the raucous beginning of American horse racing and introduce you to the stallion at its heart.

  • Format: Hardcover
  • Author: Wickens, Kim
  • ISBN: 9780593496701
  • Condition: Used
  • Number Of Pages: 320
  • Publication Year: 2023
Language: English

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