Lillie Langtry looks for starring role

The Coolmore enterprise in recent years has turned to well-known figures from literature, the arts, and history for the names of its horses. Among those under the care of Ballydoyle trainer Aidan O’Brien this racing season are Beethoven (Ire), Alfred Nobel (Ire), and Rip Van Winkle (Ire).

A name that might be less familiar to American audiences is Lillie Langtry, a British-born socialite who became a well-known actress in the latter years of the 19th century and took American citizenship in part to shed a husband.