Foaled in 1850 near present-day Lexington, Kentucky, the aptly named Lexington became one of the most influential Thoroughbred sires of his era. On the track, he won six of his seven races, earning $456,600—equivalent to more than $2 million today. Remarkably, he survived the Civil War through clever strategies and hideouts during critical battles, and went on to dominate the breeding world, leading America’s sire list for 14 consecutive years. Over 150 years later, many of today’s racing champions can trace their lineage back to this Kentucky legend.