Racehorse. The birthplace of Lexington lies within the current city limits of his namesake town Lexington, Kentucky which today is a residential neighborhood with streets named after racing figures of that time. This horse catapulted American horse racing to a number one position in the world. He only ran seven races posting six wins and one second place finish but did set a record at the Metaire Course in New Orleans. Lexington was rapidly going blind so was retired to stud. He became the leading sire in America 16 times. His fame lies in his career as a sire. Lexington is prominent in the pedigrees of fifteen of the first twenty-five Kentucky Derby winners. The Civil War impeded his stud career. Many of his best offspring were conscripted as cavalry mounts and died in various military actions. Woodburn Farm, his home, was raided by the Yankees and many horses were taken. The raids prompted the owner to ship his breeding stock including Lexington to a safe haven in Illinois where they remained until the end of the war. He died at the age of 25 from a nasal catarrh. Lexington was buried in style with a coffin in front of the stables housing his harem at Woodburn Farm. He was later disinterred and the bones were donated to the United States National Museum. The skeletal remains were articulated and today are on display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. His legacy: Preakness was an offspring and the classic race at Pimlico bears his name. It is one of the cornerstone races that make up the Triple Crown, the jewel of American horse racing.
Racehorse. The birthplace of Lexington lies within the current city limits of his namesake town Lexington, Kentucky which today is a residential neighborhood with streets named after racing figures of that time. This horse catapulted American horse racing to a number one position in the world. He only ran seven races posting six wins and one second place finish but did set a record at the Metaire Course in New Orleans. Lexington was rapidly going blind so was retired to stud. He became the leading sire in America 16 times. His fame lies in his career as a sire. Lexington is prominent in the pedigrees of fifteen of the first twenty-five Kentucky Derby winners. The Civil War impeded his stud career. Many of his best offspring were conscripted as cavalry mounts and died in various military actions. Woodburn Farm, his home, was raided by the Yankees and many horses were taken. The raids prompted the owner to ship his breeding stock including Lexington to a safe haven in Illinois where they remained until the end of the war. He died at the age of 25 from a nasal catarrh. Lexington was buried in style with a coffin in front of the stables housing his harem at Woodburn Farm. He was later disinterred and the bones were donated to the United States National Museum. The skeletal remains were articulated and today are on display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. His legacy: Preakness was an offspring and the classic race at Pimlico bears his name. It is one of the cornerstone races that make up the Triple Crown, the jewel of American horse racing.
Bio by: Donald Greyfield
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