Fall 2010
the
affiliate News about Smithsonian Affiliates
National Museum of Natural History Loans Skeleton of Racehorse Lexington By Cara Seitchek
During the final weeks of August, the skeleton of the racehorse Lexington (1850 – 1875) arrived at the International Museum of the Horse (IMH) in Lexington, Kentucky, returning him to his birthplace 160 years later. Known as one of the great racehorses, Lexington is the symbol of the city of Lexington’s latest marketing campaign, which named him the Official Horse of Bluegrass Country. Bill Cooke, IMH director, said, “More than any human, Lexington established this
town as the site of thoroughbred breeding. With the 2010 World Equestrian Games being held here for the first time outside Europe, it gave us another reason to pursue this loan.” When Cooke first contacted the Smithsonian requesting a loan of the skeleton, Lexington was featured in the National Museum of Natural History’s (NMNH) Osteology Hall as an example of Equus caballus. “We couldn’t remove continued page 7
International Museum of the Horse
Headley-Whitney Museum
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the affiliate Fall 2010