Coffee & Conversation

Looking for a laid-back book club to join? Come enjoy a cup of coffee or tea as we discuss this month's book: 'Lexington' by Kim Wickens. New members are always welcome!

The early days of American horse racing were grueling. Four-mile races that were run two or three times in succession were the norm, which rewarded horses that 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 that 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 16 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 12 of Thoroughbred racing’s 13 Triple Crown winners descended from Lexington. Wickens spent years meticulously researching the horse and his legacy. 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.

If you have any questions about this program, including accommodations, please contact Natalie at ftprograms@cc-pl.org. Please see all our program offerings in our online newsletter at cc-pl.org/connections.

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