He was bred and raced by Sheikh Mohammed, and trained in France by André Fabre, On June 17, 1988 at Chantilly Racecourse, In The Wings made a winning debut in the 1988 Prix de Vineuil under jockey Cash Asmussen.
The colt did not race again until September 1989 but the then three-year-old picked up where he left off, winning the Prix du Prince d'Orange at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris.
On April 29, he finished second in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp before winning June's Group One Coronation Cup at England's Epsom Downs Racecourse.
After finishing fifth in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot Racecourse, In The Wings won the September Prix Foy at Longchamp.
Racing Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, In The Wings won the US$2 million Breeders' Cup Turf, defeating such notable runners as With Approval (2nd), Saumarez, (5th), Pleasant Tap (8th), and Sky Classic (11th).