The city of Natchez is highlighting its significant role in early American horse racing through two upcoming public events. On August 26, Mary Beth Gibson will discuss her book Pryor Knowledge: Horse Racing, Love and Slavery in the Antebellum South at the Historic Natchez Foundation, focusing on her ancestor Benjamin Pryor, who trained Lexington—the greatest American racehorse of the 19th century. Lexington, trained in Natchez, won six of seven races and is the ancestor of every horse in the 2025 Kentucky Derby. This event is part of the Natchez Reads program, a community initiative promoting shared exploration of local history through literature.

Following this, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks will visit Natchez on September 12 to discuss her book Horse, which tells the true story of Lexington and his training on the Bingaman plantation. Brooks’ visit, also free and open to the public, coincides with her participation in the Mississippi Book Festival. These events, supported by local historic and cultural organizations, aim to deepen public understanding of Natchez’s rich equestrian heritage and its broader historical context.