Jarret
Jarret is the protagonist in the novel. The narrative follows Jarret's life as a slave until he becomes free. Jarret works as an enslaved person for Dr. Warfield. Jarret loves horses, and his main work on the farm is to train racing horses. When a foal called Darley is born, Dr. Warfield transfers its ownership to Jarret. Jarret trains Darley until he defeats a rival called Filly in a competitive race. Later, Jarret and Darley are sold to Ten Broeck. Broeck changes Darley's name to Lexington. Jarret continues training and nursing Lexington at Broek's farm. Lexington wins all his subsequent races. After several years of slavery, Jarret gets his freedom, and he goes to settle down in Canada.
Harry
Harry is Jarret's father. Harry is a free man but does not have enough money to buy his son's freedom. Several years after Jarret is sold to Ten Broeck, Harry dies, but Jarret does not get an opportunity to attend his funeral.
Dr. Elisha Warfield
Dr. Elisha Warfield owns the horse farm where Jarret first worked as an enslaved person. Dr. Warfield is humane and treats Jarret as his son, but he is later blackmailed into selling him alongside Darley.
Mary Barr
Barry is the granddaughter of Dr. Warfield. Barr helps Jarret to escape with Darley after discovering that Darley will be sold to Ten Broeck.
Ten Broeck
Ten Broeck is the new enslaver who purchases Jarret and his horse Darley. Broeck is purchasing the horse to use it in winning bets. Broeck changes Darley's name to Lexington. Lexington successfully wins all his races, thus building a good name for Broeck.
Lexington
Lexington is Jarret's horse, which was initially called Darley. Jarret and Lexington have a strong bond. Jarret continues to train and nurse Lexington for the rest of his life. Lexington died in the 1970s but left a rich legacy in horse racing competitions.
Scott
Scott is a painter of horses. Scott first meets Jarret on Dr. Warfield's farm and follows him when he is sold to ten Broeck. Scott continues to paint Lexington, and at last, he paints the horse alongside Jarret, which symbolizes his freedom from slavery.
May
May lived in Kentucky, and when she first met Jarret in 1861, she fell in love with him. However, May was initially a married woman, but she separated from her husband during the first civil war. Later, the husband returned after four years, and she separated from Jarret to reunite with her husband.
