Horse

Finding her housekeeper Annie hard at work, Martha asks if Annie needs a raise. Annie declines, even though she needs the money, because she feels Martha already pays her quite fairly. Annie mentions that she and her brother Charlie are in possession of a family heirloom back in Ohio, a painting they would like to have assessed. They’re considering selling it to help with Charlie’s school tuition. Martha assumes the artwork is likely worthless because Annie’s family is Black, impoverished, and from a rural area, but she tries not to let her assumptions show on her face. Annie admits she likes to engage with the artworks in Martha’s gallery before work. Annie knows her employer is the right person to ask about the painting, but Annie also believes that Martha might have a particular interest in it. Annie references the photograph of a woman clearing a jump aboard a horse with four white socks, which hangs in Martha’s bedroom. Martha identifies the woman as her mother.

Jarret is crestfallen as the body of Sallie Waters is dragged out of her stall. Jarret comforts the distressed Lexington, whispering to his horse that her death is not Lexington’s fault. Jarret knows that he is granted a measure of autonomy and privilege rarely afforded to enslaved people, but he is increasingly troubled by Ten Broeck’s methods in his insatiable desire for money. Scott had visited Jarret’s quarters after the race, admiring Jarret’s accommodations and presuming that Jarret should be in no hurry to use his recent winnings to try to secure his emancipation. Jarret agrees only in the sense that he does not want to jeopardize his proximity to Lexington by broaching the subject prematurely.

A letter arrives for Jarret in response to one he had written asking for word of his father. Mary Barr writes that Jarret’s father had recently died of yellow fever. She states that her grandfather, Dr. Warfield, exerted his diligent efforts in trying to save Harry, and that Beth was at his side until the end.

The daughter of a wealthy family, Martha’s mother Cyrena married Howard, of the equally illustrious Kellogg family. Howard spared no expense, investing in fine horses, elite trainers, and fully accoutered facilities in support of her ambitions. Cyrena distinguished herself as a tenacious competitor, especially aboard Royal Eclipse, the four-socked bay in the photograph hanging in Martha’s bedroom. Martha too loved horses and riding, immersed in the culture and the sport from birth, though she never shared her mother’s ambitious edge, a point of contention between them.

One afternoon, when Cyrena was aboard Royal Eclipse and Martha was aboard his sister, Fashion Eclipse, Royal Eclipse tripped. Cyrena lost her balance and fell, hitting her head on the ground, and was killed instantly. Howard sold Royal Eclipse. He did not blame the horse but could not bear to be reminded of Cyrena’s death. Martha accepted an offer for Fashion Eclipse soon after. Her love of horses had not diminished, but her relationship to the sport had become too complicated after losing her mother.

When Scott visits Metairie, he is no longer an amateur. the talents and mentorship of his beloved, Julien, have refined and broadened his skills as an artist. Scott met Julien in New Orleans and was immediately enchanted by the elegant man’s presence and refinement. Julien, son of an Englishman and a Black mother, studied portraiture in Paris. Scott’s virtuosity has improved significantly in the years since he first began painting horses for the racing gentry, but his skills in depicting the human form are comparatively lacking, and he is awed by Julien’s talent. Julien has begun instructing Scott in all manner of techniques during their time together. When Jarret sees the latest Lexington painting Scott has created at Metairie, Scott notes that he sees a rare expression cross Jarret’s face: a smile.

Jarret, aboard Lexington, is returning from a 10-mile conditioning workout when he sees Viley talking to Ten Broeck. Viley has just been informed that Jarret has had sole responsibility for Lexington’s training since they came to Louisiana. Viley is angry that Ten Broeck has changed Lexington’s training program without informing him and asserts that he will now take charge. Upon seeing the results of Jarret’s expert training and conditioning regimen, Viley changes his mind and invites Jarret to collaborate with him in implementing his training plan.

A promoter above all, Ten Broeck devotes the months leading up to the coming race drumming up publicity and challenging owners and breeders of horses across the nation to travel to Metairie. His efforts are successful, and New Orleans is inundated with interested parties and spectators alike. Those enthusiasts who cannot be in attendance will anxiously await news of the results from the telegraph system.

Theo and Jess have begun to spend more time together, bonding over their shared passions. The affection between them blossoms, developing into a domestic intimacy as they cook meals and spend overnights together. As they get to know one another, each develops a deeper awareness of the complexities contributing to their differences, including race and social class. They have a disagreement about John Berger, an English art critic, and Jess feels Theo is being classist when he judges her use of slang: “In her first year at university, she’d felt put down by affluent, private school kids who carried a polish and an experience of the world she lacked. Now Theo was making her feel exactly the same way” (234). They gloss over the tension.

In her lab, Jess notices a significant anomaly in Lexington’s skull. A lumpy growth protrudes just beneath where his left eye would have sat in its orbit. She first thinks it was damaged during conservation repair, but on closer examination, she realizes that the aberrant structure is comprised of bone, evidence that the malformation occurred while Lexington was alive.

On race day, only four horses are entered. Owners from the north have declined to participate, owing to rising political tensions surrounding slavery. In the first heat, two horses, Arrow and Highlander, drop far enough behind to present no significant challenge to Lexington and his biggest threat, Lecompte, another son of Boston. Highlander qualifies for the second heat, but Arrow is disqualified. Just when it seems Lecompte might defeat Lexington, Lexington rockets forward, crossing the finish line three full-lengths ahead of his half-sibling. Lexington streaks to victory by four lengths in the second heat.

Jarret brings Lexington to a farm where the horse will spend the next few months resting and recuperating. He then visits Mary Barr, who is visiting New Orleans for the race. With tensions over slavery brewing, she urges him to come back to The Meadows. Ten Broeck summons Jarret that evening, informing Jarret that he knows where Jarret had been. He reminds Jarret that Mary Barr is just like her father.

Ten Broeck decides to race Lexington again. Jarret intends to confront him but finds Ten Broeck and Viley already in a heated argument. The people who have challenged Lexington know he is not prepared to race. Ten Broeck tells Viley they will see how Lexington is running before deciding who to bet on. Viley is appalled that Ten Broeck would consider placing his horse in a race he was not certain he could win, and that he would be so dishonorable as to bet against his own horse.

Lecompte defeats Lexington in both heats. Lexington puts forth a valiant effort, but is unable to access his full potential in his condition. Meichon pushes Lexington with ferocity, later confessing to Jarret that Ten Broeck had forced him to do so. Having bet on Lecompte, Ten Broeck had not wanted to arouse suspicion.

Ten Broeck’s reputation is blighted by his conduct on the day of the race. His detractors chastise him for running Lexington in a race he was not prepared for, and rumors spread that he had a hand in fixing the race against his own horse. Publicly, Ten Broeck blames the loss on Meichon. He fires the jockey and hires famed jockey Gil Patrick away from Lecompte’s owner, General Wells, who snubs his request for a rematch. Ten Broeck decides to race Lexington against Lecompte’s fastest winning time instead, calling it the “Race Against Time” (261). A clockmaker in New York is inspired to create a new model of stopwatch which will allow spectators in the stands to clock Lexington’s time for themselves.

In the fall, Scott notices that Lexington and Jarret have been working on their commands, Lexington following Jarret’s every quiet utterance as though the two are of the same mind. He learns that Jarret and Lexington had gone to train in New York, where Jarret lived independently and experienced how other young men lived in a state without the institution of slavery.