The early days of American horse racing we re grueling. Four-mile races that were run two or three times in successio n were the norm\, which rewarded horses that brandished the ideal combinat ion of stamina and speed. The stallion Lexington\, named after the city in Kentucky where he was born\, possessed these winning qualities that pione ering Americans prized. \;
\nLexington shattered the world speed record for a four-mile race\, showing a war-torn nation that the extraord inary was possible even in those perilous times. He would continue his win ning career until deteriorating eyesight forced his retirement in 1855. Bu t 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&mdash\;an annual success that led Lexington to b e named America&rsquo\;s leading sire an unprecedented 16 times. \;
\nYet\, with the Civil War raging\, Lexington&rsquo\;s years at a Kent ucky stud farm were far from idyllic. Confederate soldiers ran amok\, loot ing freely and kidnapping horses from the top stables. They soon focused o n the prized Lexington and his valuable progeny.
\nKim Wickens\, a l awyer and dressage rider\, became fascinated by this legendary horse when she learned that 12 of Thoroughbred racing&rsquo\;s 13 Triple Crown winner s descended from Lexington. Wickens spent years meticulously researching t he horse and his legacy. With Lexington\, she presents an absorbi ng\, exciting account that transports readers back to the raucous beginnin g of American horse racing and introduces them to the stallion at its hear t.
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