PrintThe first Saturday in May always makes me excited. One, the month of May means the good weather is here to stay (generally speaking—a May snowstorm is not an unheard of occurrence), everything is blooming and green, and in Louisville, Ky., a chance for a new legend to emerge is about to take place.
Before the Kentucky Derby was even a concept, however, a horse was born that would become a Thoroughbred legend. On March 17, 1850, a blood bay colt entered the world. Bred by Dr. Elisha Warfield, he was from the last crop of foals sired by Boston. He won his first two races easily enough, and a syndicate made up of Richard Ten Broeck, General Abe Buford, Captain Willa Viley and Junius R. Ward purchased him for $2,500 in 1853 and renamed him Lexington.
K.B. Pryor took over his training shortly thereafter, and he raced only seven times during his 3- and 4-year-old seasons. Most of his races were about four miles long, and he won six times, placing second once.
Standing at 15.3 hands, Lexington had an ornery temperament and was known as one of the best racehorses during that time. He had a rivalry with Lecomte, who was also a son of Boston. Their match race on April 24, 1855, was believed to be one of the best races of the century.
Sadly, Lexington had to be retired at the end of 1855 due to poor eyesight, probably inherited from his sire.
In 1858, after standing at stud at Nantura Stock Farm in Midway, Ky., he was sold to Robert A. Alexander for $15,000 and moved to Woodburn Stud in Spring Station, Ky.
During the American Civil War, Confederate raiders stole many horses. The raids prompted Alexander to ship his breeding stock, including Lexington, to Illinois, where they stayed until the war ended in 1865.
Lexington eventually earned the nickname “The Blind Hero of Woodburn,” and he was the leading sire in North America 16 times (1861-1874, 1876 and 1878). Nine of the first 15 Travers Stakes were won by his direct offspring, and he also sired several Preakness winners. Interestingly enough, Lexington was also the sire of Cincinatti, General Ulysses S. Grant’s favorite horse.
Many of Lexington’s sons were successful at stud, but none of them reached Lexington’s status. His daughters, however, passed on his speed and tenacity, and many of their descendents are still seen on the tracks today.
On July 1, 1875, Lexington passed away at the age of 25. He was buried outside his stall at Woodburn, but his bones were later exhumed and put on display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. In 1955, he was part of the first group of horse inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
This year’s Kentucky Derby was full of royally bred horses, and several of them trace back to Lexington. Here are a few examples.
Sidney’s Candy — Traces back to Lexington through his dam, Fair Exchange. Fair Exchange’s sire, Storm Cat, is a grandson of Secretariat, whose sire, Bold Ruler, traces back to Fair Play through his dam line. Fair Play is a son of Hastings, whose sire, Spendthrift, is the son of Lexington’s daughter, Aerolite.
