A young enslaved groom is there for the birth of a foal on a dark Kentucky night in 1850, unaware that this horse will change his life. This horse will become a legend in the world of racing. A portrait of the horse will touch the life of an art gallery owner in 1950's New York. And in present day Washington D.C., a scientist studying the horse's skeleton bonds with an art historian studying equestrian art and the Black men who appear in a painting with the infamous horse. These stories intertwine to tell the story of Lexington, one of horse racing's greatest ever. I was somewhat intimidated by this book before I started reading it. I had never read a book by Brooks before, but I had heard about them. They seemed to me to be very highbrow. Art history? Articulation of skeletons? Pretty heady stuff for a country girl. But Brooks has written a story about horse racing and racism that is engrossing, interesting and enjoyable for everyone.