Kelso’s Final Big Hurrah as Reign Comes to an End
Following the tidal wave of megabuck spending we saw at the recent Saratoga yearling sale we are going nostalgic again to think pure thoughts, and who better to think about than the great Kelso on the 60th anniversary of his remarkable and emotional victory in the Whitney as an 8-year-old after being on the brink of retirement. ~ Steve Haskin
Kelso’s Final Big Hurrah as Reign Comes to an End
By Steve Haskin
The early 1960s was considered the age of innocence in America. The country was not only at peace with the world it was at peace with itself and for the most part united. Everyone seemed to get along and the only so-called violence was on the numerous TV westerns that dominated the airways and were more about character studies and theme songs than gunfights. Even the “raucous” rock and roll of Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis that was born in the mid-50s and caused the so-called generation gap, along with Elvis’ gyrating hips, was giving way to a softer, more mellow sound with catchy tunes and lyrics, written mostly by Jewish teenagers from Brooklyn working out of the Brill Building in Manhattan.
The three most popular sports in the country were baseball, boxing, and, yes, horse racing. And one of the most popular heroes, especially in New York, was a plain brown racehorse named Kelso, who dominated the Sport of Kings like no other before him, and whose name seemed to be in the newspaper headlines every Sunday following one of his many victories before crowds of over 50,000 at Aqueduct or Belmont Park (before it closed for reconstruction).
Kelso embodied all the qualities Americans looked for in their heroes. He was the underdog who captured a throne; the runt who be king. Growing up, those closest to him described him as “ratty looking.” But for half a decade he was the epitome of dependability, finishing on the board in 58 of his 63 races despite carrying 130 pounds or more 24 times. And he won from six furlongs to two miles and set world records on dirt and grass. In 1963, he won eight races in a row, six of them carrying weights of 130 to 134 pounds.
Even as the years passed, he refused to surrender his crown to those younger rivals who kept challenging his supremacy. He defeated every classic-winning colt he faced, including a Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, two Belmont winners, and three Travers winners.
So dominant was the horse they affectionately called “Kelly,” he was voted Horse of the Year an amazing five consecutive years from 1960 to 1964, winning the two-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup all five years.
Kelso was first horse to have his own fan club, started by a 12-year-old schoolgirl named Heather Noble, who was born in Austria and adopted by an American couple. After being stricken with polio she became lonely and withdrawn and immersed herself in books about horses. Captivated by their speed and power generated on such spindly legs, she would dream about what it would be like to glide effortlessly over the ground with that kind of speed and power.
One Saturday she was watching racing on TV when something inexplicable happened. One of the horses turned his head and looked right at her through the screen. She yelled to her mother, “That horse looked right at me!” as if looking right into her soul. That horse was Kelso. A hero, just like the ones in her books, had come to life right there before her eyes. She was smitten and her life would never be the same. So was born the Kelso Fan Club and Kelsoland newsletter, which grew from two pages to 20 pages and thousands of readers, including not only young racing fans, but owners, trainers, jockeys, and journalists. In many ways, social media had begun, with a single horse and a young girl uniting a new generation of fans.
Soon, everyone became familiar with Kelso and his family, which included his stable ponies Spray and Pete, a stocky yellow cat who pretty much moved in with him, and an assorted group of canines who went by the names of Rabbit, Cracker, Cookie, Sketch, and Mickey. And there was his personal bodyguard Charlie Potatoes, a little mutt who slept with Kelso every night and was often seen stretched out across his head. Charlie was rarely out of Kelso’s sight.
The horse had become so popular he needed his own personal mailbox at owner Allaire duPont’s Woodstock Farm in Maryland.
Allaire duPont leading Kelso to the winner’s circle.
Mrs. duPont never thought of herself as the owner of Kelso, as one would own a possession, “How can anyone actually possess the courage and generosity of another living creature?” she said.
Now that you know a little about Kelso and the times in which he lived and ruled the sport we can jump ahead several years to when it looked as if the great gelding’s career was winding down following his fifth Horse of the Year title at age 7. By then America had begun to change. Those brief years of innocence were rudely interrupted by the assassination of President Kennedy in November of 1963, the beginning of the Vietnam War in 1964, and a new look and culture brought here from England by The Beatles that same year. But all through that, Kelso remained that same hero who provided an escape on so many Saturdays and holidays, as his adoration continued to grow. He was still something pure and dependable.
Following his victory over arch rival Gun Bow in the Nov. 11, 1964 Washington D.C. International, in which he set a new world record for 1 ½ miles to nail down his fifth Horse of the Year title, Kelso was sent to Woodstock Farm and no one knew if he would return for another year. He had already entertained hundreds of visitors and was scheduled to make charitable appearances at racetracks in the United States and Canada with proceeds donated to various equine research projects.
But as winter drew to an end, Kelso was starting to get antsy and his trainer Carl Hanford expressed his wish to keep the old boy in training, feeling he was in such good condition it would be a shame to stop on him now. In addition, Mrs. duPont was receiving hundreds of letters begging her not to retire Kelso. As she always did, she or her secretary Gertrude Jackson made it a point to answer every letter, whether it was addressed to her or Kelso. Even Claiborne Farm owner Bull Hancock commented that Kelso should be given the opportunity to become racing’s first $2 million earner.
But Mrs. duPont still was not ready to make a commitment, and instead concentrated on Kelso’s appearances, one of which was at Keeneland on April 20, following visits to Laurel, Churchill Downs, and Delaware Park. Accompanied by Charlie Potatoes, who as usual watched over his buddy day and night, barking at anyone who got too close, Kelso paraded on the track after the 6th race and headed back to the barn. His longtime groom Lawrence “Fitz” Fitzpatrick, couldn’t believe how good he looked, commenting to some visitors, “His coat is nice and healthy and he’s sound as a dollar…one helluva horse.”
With letters still pouring in daily and Kelso apparently enjoying his days at the racetrack, Mrs. duPont finally announced that the champ would return for an 8-year-old campaign.
It was already well into June and there weren’t many spots available for Kelso’s first start. But Hanford was able to find a six-furlong allowance race at Monmouth Park on June 29 just to get him tuned up following an almost eight-month layoff. With Bill Boland subbing for regular rider Milo Valenzuela, who was busy riding in California, Kelso made a furious late charge from eighth to finish third, beaten a half-length.
Hanford ran him back 11 days later in the 1 1/16-mile Diamond State Handicap at Delaware Park. Despite carrying 130 pounds, Kelso won easily by 3 ¼ lengths, missing the track record by three-fifths of a second.
That set him up two weeks later for the 1 ¼-mile Brooklyn Handicap, the third leg of the Handicap Triple Crown. Only three horses had managed to sweep the Met Mile, Suburban Handicap, and Brooklyn, one of which was Kelso in 1961, following Whisk Broom II in 1913 and Tom Fool in 1953.
Burdened with 132 pounds, Kelso had to give 11 pounds to the classy Roman Brother, ’64 Belmont and Travers winner Quadrangle, and the red-hot Pia Star, winner of the Suburban Handicap and Equipoise Mile, equaling the world record of 1:33 1/5. To make things more difficult, a heavy blanket of heat and humidity enveloped the northeast, making for unbearable conditions.
When Fitz led Kelso into the paddock, a thunderous round of applause erupted from the crowd of over 49,000. Among those in attendance was Heather Noble, now 15, who found a spot along the rail and proudly waved her Kelsoland banner. While there she signed up six new members to the Kelso Fan Club.
But the fairy tale return didn’t go as planned, as the weight and the heat and humidity took their toll, and Kelso had to settle for third behind Pia Star, who ran the 10 furlongs in a swift 2:00 3/5, and Roman Brother after making a bold move on the turn, which brought the crowd to its feet.
Although the Brooklyn had to take something out of him, Kelso came right back two weeks later in the August 7 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga. He had run once in the Whitney in 1963 winning by 2 ½ lengths. With the race under allowance conditions, Kelso still had to carry 130 pounds, but this time conceding only three pounds to Pia Star.
Original 1965 Whitney Stakes Track Program
The morning of the race, exercise rider Dickie Jenkins, who was closer to Kelso than anyone, being with him when he was born and raised and would be with him at his death, was in Louie’s Kitchen on the Saratoga backstretch when trainer George Poole walked in. Poole, a former assistant to Greentree Stable trainer John Gaver, yelled over to Jenkins, “Hey Dickie, when are you gonna retire that old fart?”
“Hell, this old sucker still wants to run,” he replied.
“Well, Greentree’s got one in today, and he ain’t gonna beat him,” Poole said.
Poole was referring to Malicious, a stakes winner at 2, 3, and 4, who was coming off a big victory in the Nassau County Stakes and was in the Whitney with a feathery 114 pounds, 16 pounds less than Kelso.
In the tree-lined saddling area, a crowd gathered seven deep around Kelso’s tree. Saratoga had not seen anything like it since Native Dancer returned there in 1953 to win the Travers.
Among those in attendance was The Right Reverend Arthur McKinstry, retired Episcopal bishop of Delaware, who had officiated at the marriage of then President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson. At the Johnsons’ 30th wedding anniversary party, a reporter asked the bishop if he had any other claim to fame, and he replied, “Well, among my friends in Wilmington I am casually spoken of as the private chaplain of the great racehorse Kelso.” When asked by the reporter if he directed heavenly words to God on behalf of a racehorse, he answered, “I don’t have to. Let’s just say I sit there with my fingers crossed and hope a little. Actually, I get so nervous when Kelso runs I try to recite the Greek alphabet backward to take my mind off things.”
The bishop had every right to be nervous on this day. When Jenkins, aboard a pony, led Kelso to the gate, Kelly turned his head slightly and looked right at him with little life in his eyes. Jenkins could read Kelso better than anyone and knew every sign he gave off. As they approached the starting gate, the assistant starter grabbed Kelso’s bridle to lead him into the gate and told Jenkins, “I think he’s gonna get beat today, Dickie.”
All Jenkins could do was jog off and watch the race and hope the assistant starter was wrong. He had faith that the spark would be there when Kelso needed it.
With Malicious getting so much weight it was no surprise to see him shoot right to the lead, where he was able to set moderate fractions of :23 2/5, :47 1/5, and 1:11 1/5. Kelso, favored at 6/5 with the sentimental Saratoga crowd, was back in fourth in the five-horse field, five lengths off the pace. George Widener’s Crewman, winner of the 1963 Travers, took a run at Malicious, but quickly retreated. Pia Star was in striking range in third, but unable to make up any ground. Kelso was another three lengths back and going nowhere. It was obvious Malicious had a lot left and would be hard to catch, while time had appeared to have finally caught up to Kelso.
Jenkins conceded it wasn’t his day. In the stands, Carl Hanford wondered, “What’s wrong with him?”
Suddenly, Kelso seemed to rouse from a sound sleep. Valenzuela brought him off the rail and hit him several times left-handed. Passing the eighth pole, Kelso was now second, but Malicious still led by 2 ½ lengths and showed no signs of tiring. Kelso was relentless as he bore down on him. It was all heart pushing those 8-year-old legs. Everyone knew it was going to be close. Kelso kept coming, driven by sheer will. He gave one final surge and stuck his nose in front right at the wire.
Kelso wins the Whitney Stakes in a thrilling finish over Malicious.
To demonstrate what he had accomplished at his age under 132 pounds and how tough a foe he had beaten, it was six lengths back to Pia Star in third. Kelso returned to a hero’s welcome. Even the hardened veteran Dickie Jenkins was moved to tears.
But that would be Kelso’s last time in the big spotlight. He could only manage a fourth-place finish in the Aqueduct Stakes behind Malicious, who this time was in receipt of 14 pounds. The Aqueduct marked the 24th and final race in which Kelso carried 130 pounds or more. And he was a smallish horse, who just ran big.
He did crush a weak field in the Stymie Handicap by eight lengths on September 22, keeping alive a shot at a sixth Horse of the Year title, which looked very wide open at that point. With the Woodward and Jockey Club Gold Cup still to be run there was plenty of time to make another late push in the two races he had won a total of seven times.
But few people realized that Kelso’s fate was sealed as he stood in the winner’s circle posing for his picture following the Stymie. Jenkins noticed the horse’s left eye was closed. When he returned to the barn the eye was as “white as a golf ball,” according to Jenkins. The left orb had been severely damaged after apparently getting struck by a clod of dirt, and there was fear he would lose the eye. Jenkins and Fitz had to take turns sitting by Kelso’s side day and night, holding on to the shank to make sure he didn’t rub the eye against something.
Fortunately the eye healed in about a week and Kelso was sent home to Woodstock Farm to recuperate. Meanwhile, Roman Brother, who Kelso had crushed in the previous year’s Jockey Club Gold Cup, rattled off victories in the Woodward, Manhattan Handicap, and JC Gold Cup to take home Horse of the Year, ending one of the most remarkable championship runs in sports history. One of the many postcards sent to Kelso read: “You are still the champ. There might be a new crown prince, but never another king.”
The following year, Kelso amazingly began to get caught up in the lure of the racetrack again. With him needing only $23,000 to become the first horse to earn $2 million and still showing the desire to be a racehorse, Mrs duPont decided to give him a shot as long as he was sound and still competitive. He arrived at Hialeah on March 2, 1966 and five days later ran in a six-furlong allowance race. Like the year before, he rallied from eighth and last, 10 lengths back, to finish a fast-closing fourth.
One morning, Dickie Jenkins took Kelso out for a one-mile work. After breaking into a gallop he ran up behind a string of Calumet Farm 2-year-olds. One of them ducked to the outside and Kelso was forced to slam on the brakes. He began to slide and took an awkward step. When he started nodding his head Jenkins knew something was wrong. He pulled him up and when Hanford asked him what happened, he said simply, “This horse ain’t right.” X-rays revealed a fracture of the tip of the sesamoid. Kelso was flown home, this time for good. He was retired with earnings of $1,977,896. After seven years, racing fans would have to get used to Saturdays without Kelso.
Other superstars would come along, such as Buckpasser, Damascus, Dr. Fager, and Arts and Letters, as the now turbulent sixties, which had replaced those early halcyon days, drew to an end.
But as the legendary Daily Racing Form writer Joe Hirsch wrote, “Once upon a time there was a horse named Kelso – but only once.”
There were many more adventures in store for Kelso in the years to come – entertaining visitors, hacking through the fields of Woodstock Farm with Mrs. duPont, special appearances, and performing over jumps at racetracks and even Madison Square Garden and other horse shows, while winning a number of ribbons.
But on that day in 1966 when he was officially retired before taking up permanent residence at Woodstock Farm, all that was left were the countless memories of that nondescript brown horse decked out in his owner’s yellow and gray colors, who once seemed eternal and who provided the nation with a kind of stability it would never see again.
It is difficult to sum up a horse’s life and what he meant to so many people of all ages and for so long in just six words. But in Kelso’s case, those six words can be found on his gravestone: “Where He Gallops, The Earth Sings.”
Photos courtesy of Mike Sirico/New York Racing Association and the Baltimore Sun.
Racing historian, author, and award-winning retired journalist for the Daily Racing Form and The Blood-Horse, Steve Haskin was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame’s Media Roll of Honor in 2016. Known for his racing knowledge and insightful prose, he has been an exclusive contributor to Secretariat.com since 2020.
As a young man, I watched many erase the Kelso and of all time he was my favorite horse. I’ve seen him with 135 137 pounds beat up everybody else it was nobody like him and probably know nobody ever will be he would carry weight more than anybody else and still cross the line ahead of everybody.
I met kelso when I was a child at his home in maryland. I am now 68 yrs old I think I was 10 yrs old at the time. It was so exciting to meet him! 😊
I just re-read this column thinking about the closing of Aqueduct. And once again it brought me to tears. Kelso will always be my racing hero.
I was at Monmouth Park in 1960 when Kelso won the Choice Stakes. If I’m not mistaken it was his first stakes victory. Don Rickles, ridden by Con McCreary, was the favorite.
As history is topical on this thread at present let’s head to York for the fabulous Ebor Festival of racing at York Racecourse from this Wednesday to Saturday.
Archeologists have suggested that horse racing goes as far back as the Neolithic times at ‘The Knavesmire.’ Certainly, there is evidence of racing here in Roman Times. Moreover, , the York Racecourse is the site where Dick Turpin was executed in 1739 for of all things ‘horse theft.’
So much for the brief history lesson, on to the modern racing.
Wednesday’s highlight is the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes
Thursday’s highlight is the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks
Friday’s highlight is the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes
Saturday’s highlight is the Group 1 City of York Stakes
Rain is not expected to interrupt proceedings and it won’t be hot either. Perfect racing weather. Enjoy.
I was at Hawthorne the day in 1960 when Kelso, as a rising three-year-old, won the Hawthorne Gold Cub, then an important race, won in other years by the likes of Discovery, Round Table and Dr. Fager. Sad what’s happened to Hawthorne and Chicago racing.
Steve & Co…..I’ve never seen this, but….what if—Sovereignty wins on Saturday (he will)…and Journalism wins the Breeders Cup Classic? Could we have the bizzare result of….Sovereignty winning 3yo Ecliose….and Journalism winning HOY???…..Could that even happen?…
Steve great tribute to kelso wow ! Thank u he was slightly before my time and I loved learning about him 🙏I was surprised to see one of his foes was Malicious. Malicious is a mystery horse to me at Santa Anita they have an incredible walk of fame with all the stars you’d expect seabiscuit John Henry cougar Susan’s girl ack ack affirmed round table citation swaps etc but there’s an equal monument to a horse named Malicious his beautiful plaque says he ran 183! Times in the 1930s in marathon races and his popularity rivaled Seabiscuit he’s the one and only claiming horse voted on to the Santa Anita walk of fame obviously Kelso rival malicious is different than the 1930s malicious but a toast to this mystery malicious and credit to Santa Anita for honoring one claiming star in their fantastic walk of fame !
Yes, there were two horses named Malicious. Kelso’s contemporary was a chestnut colt from the Greentree Stable foaled in 1961. I don’t recall much about his achievements, but I remember that at the time someone wrote a letter objecting to his name. The writer felt that the other Malicious deserved exclusive rights to the name and no other horse should ever have it. He obviously generated a lot of strong feelings.
Thanks jiffy for that memory on Malicious !
Apparently I have to be on vacation (without TV or WiFi) to pick a winner. Nitrogen won the Alabama just as I thought. I’ll be home in time to see the Travers but I’m picking Magnitude now to see if my luck holds. Also looking forward to see the spectacular debut of that Not This Time colt who won by 17.
Sov. will have alot to say. Going with him.
Just 5 for the Travers. No surprises. Looks like it boils down to whether or not Sovereignty can catch Magnitude. Magnitude is a fresh horse. I’m not sure how good he really is. That race at Fair Grounds was freakish. We’ll find out on Saturday.
I wish we could have gotten more horses in one of the year’s best races for 3-year-olds.
How many more times will ‘Warhorse’- on another site continue repeating Mag will ” blow away” Sov? Lol
When at Santa Anita I go by the statue of JOHN HENRY and think of all you wrote about him in your book. The stories about race horses of the past are of great interest to me, like KELSO by Linda Kennedy, who saw him race in the ’63 Whitney, Out of the Clouds (STYMIE), Here Comes EXTERMINATOR, BATTLESHIP, the books on SECRETARIAT and your column. Even two horses that never raced but showed their mettle in more heroic ways, WARRIOR the WW1 war horse by Gen. Jack Seely and the incredible story of the little Korean race horse RECKLESS, the Pride of the Marines by Andrew Geer. I try to interest the younger members of the family in race horses, some get it, some don’t. I have noticed younger crowds at the track lately. Maybe that’s a good sign.
Thanks for this list of books to read! I’ve read “Out of the Clouds” and enjoyed it a lot. I will have to look up the others you mentioned.
Just wanted to say, Steve, as a millennial, that I really enjoyed reading about Kelso. Your columns and memories about the past greats make me sad that I wasn’t around to see them. How I would love in this day and age to see a horse that ran as often and for as many seasons as they did!
As a young-ish person who is obsessed with racing, I will say that what helped me get into it was movies such as The Black Stallion and National Velvet, the Black Stallion books, and also the (very cheesy and teeny-bopperish) “Thoroughbred” series by Joanna Campbell. Throw in the Marguerite Henry horse books too. One of the things that really got me hooked was my Dad tuning in to the Kentucky Derby for me to watch it for the first time. It was 2001, and I was 13. I picked a horse named Monarchos because I loved his name. We know how that turned out! After that, my Dad started taking me to our local track (Emerald Downs) a couple times a summer. We had so much fun out there. The part of the country where I live now is hundreds of miles away from any tracks, so I don’t get to go very often, but on recent roadtrips I’ve made it a point to go to Turfway and Santa Anita. I’ve got several young boys, and especially my oldest is getting really interested in racing now, too. I had some serious pride before the Derby overhearing my boys discuss the relative merits of Sovereignty and Journalism. 😀
Thank you to all who commented. Maybe one day the younger generation will find these columns interesting. But I fear history in general is dying.
Unfortunately, your fear is legitimate as today’s horse “heroes” only run for the most 5 to 6 times a year and the very good ones rarely make it past 4 years old. Plus today’s racing fan only look to the “now” and not to the “past”. It is a sad situation but that is reality.
I know what you mean. I always find it ironic that goldfish are (incorrectly) accused of having three-second memories when that description is more aptly applied to modern-day humans!
Steve, please do not be dismayed by the lack of comments for this particular column. I’m sure that most of your readers follow you on a regular basis and just don’t feel that they have anything to add for one reason or another. I, for one, read and enjoy all your columns but don’t comment as often I’d like because my brain isn’t as sharp as it used to be (there’s that factor with some of your older readers?). You, my friend, obviously don’t have a dull mind because you do such a thorough job of filling in all the nooks and crannies of these great stories. I’m consistently entertained and informed by your columns. Please keep them coming (especially in the cold winter months ahead). Thank you, Steve.
BTW, did you happen to see the 7th race at Saratoga today? I think I just saw my earliest favorite for the Kentucky Derby next year. The spectacular MSW win by first time starter, It’s Our Time, really impressed as the son of Not This Time defeated his rivals in the 6 1/2f contest winning by almost 18 lengths. The Tom Amoss trainee will be one to keep an eye on. Looking forward to the speed rating for his race.
Dewey, speaking of potential 2 year olds while dreaming of next year’s Classics. There is a Tapit 2 year old colt running in Race 6 at Saratoga on Sunday. The race is on the turf at 1 1/16 miles so, obviously, they aren’t rushing him.
Stimulate, No. 8, is the colt in question (Tapit – Elate by Medaglia d’Oro) owned and bred by Claiborne Farm. Trainer is Bill Mott and to be ridden Junior Alvarado.
If Stimulate has talent, the pedigree is meant for the stud farm. Let’s hope he performs admirably.
‘Softly, softly catchee monkey.’
Thanks for the heads up on Stimulate, Davids. I’ve added him to my Stable Mail. Alas, he was scratched today so I don’t know what Bill Mott has in mind for his first race? Perhaps he’s considering Kentucky Downs if he wants to keep Stimulate on the green. KD opens in a couple of weeks and the boutique meet has continuously raised their purse structure to unmatched status in America.
As a matter of fact, Mark Casse has nominated our boy, Sandman, to the $3,500,000 Nashville Derby at KD. He gave him a work on the grass at Saratoga and he seemed to like it. Wouldn’t it be great to see Sandman excel on the turf displaying another dimension of his talent?
Dewey, Stimulate has been entered again already, this time next Saturday in Race 6 at Saratoga. However, it’s on the dirt and at 6f this time.
Obviously, they are just looking for a race to let the colt become acquainted with ‘racing.’ I wasn’t expecting anything in today’s race but to have a look at him.
Thanks for the tip with Sandman being entered for the Nashville Derby at Kentucky Downs. I read about a week ago in The Blood-Horse that they were thinking about the Nashville Derby. It’s a quirky track but so is Sandman a little quirky so perhaps it’s a good match.
The field for the Travers Stakes is very disappointing as is the H. Allen Jerkins Memorial but I’d like to see Madaket Road win that one. Ha ha
Dewey, coincidentally it’s Race 6 in post 8 next Saturday that Stimulate is running in, like today’s position so it could be a good omen. Fingers crossed.
Love your quote, Davids. It suits Bill Mott’s style to a tee.
Thanks Dewey but it’s the malaise regarding history in general. Not just racing. There are actually young people who dont know the difference between the Civil War and Revolutionary War or who participated in WWII. Very sad.
Yes, it is sad but I don’t think it’s the fault of the young people. I was a teacher and my pupils knew about the Civil War, the battles, and the participants and they loved to learn about it. Of course, they were a different generation, but I think today’s children would respond if this information were presented to them in an interesting manner by someone who actually cares about it. Too often they are exposed to the attitude that history is dead and gone and unimportant, and they pick up on that. Our schools, in general, are failing in this area because they’re not trying.
As for Kelso, I loved your article. Too often I fail to respond because I don’t think I have anything worthwhile to add to what has already been said. Other times I think I need time to get my thoughts in order, and the week passes before I manage that. It’s not because I didn’t like or didn’t read your work. I remember Kelso very well and there aren’t enough superlatives to describe him. No horse was ever so good so often for so long as he was. He always seemed invincible, and his rare losses did nothing to change that. If somehow he didn’t win one day, you knew he would next time and he always did. He ran in the era when the race to win if you wanted to be Horse of the Year was the Jockey Club Gold Cup at two miles against the best horses around and maybe under 130 pounds. Kelso did it five times. And Allaire du Pont was the perfect horse owner. We used to look forward to seeing her in the winner’s circle. She was always a gracious winner and she obviously loved her horses. There was a lot to like about Kelso and his people and a lot that we can still miss.
Jiffy, “Hamilton” the musical is the answer to your prayer. I’ve seen Hamilton 5 times live on stage. Once in New York and London, and three times in Melbourne. Plus numerous times through Disney +.
Each time the audience, in every country, was predominantly young people in their twenties. So, it does work.
Well Steve, they should go and see the musical “Hamilton” it’s sung in a rap style. They would learn a lot both in history and about a musical genre.
Davids, “Hamilton” is historical fiction, defined as a “literary genre that blends historical events, settings and details with fictional narratives and characters.
Inaccuracies:
1. Hamilton did not punch the bursar. Lafayette did not arrive in America until 1777. New York fell to British control early during the American Revolution, Hamilton did not return to New York until after the end of the Revolutionary War.
2. The portrayal of Hamilton as strongly embracing his immigrant background and an outspoken abolitionist is misleading and inaccurate. While Hamilton opposed slavery his concern was a fear of a divided country. This is clear in President George Washington’s Farwell letter to the Nation at the end of his second term. Hamilton wrote much of the speech for Washington.
3. The three socialite daughters of Philip Schuyler, no evidence to support their being progressive feminists. The family had 15 siblings, three of which were sons. The song associated with them is false because Schuyler did have sons. Angelica and Hamilton did not have a love affair.
4. Hamilton resigned during the Washington Administration, he was not fired by President John Adams.
5. Thomas Jefferson was not eccentric and combative as characterized in the play. If you have read biographies of Jefferson as I have, you would know he was a quiet man who had a high pitch voice and therefore did not speak publicly. He was also thoughtful and reserved when it came to political decisions. In Jon Meachem’s biography (consider by many to e the best written and most accurate) titled “Thomas Jefferson, The Art of Power”, we learn Jefferson was a master of compromise, he was able to combine philosophy with strategy and embodied many of the traits that shaped the founding of the United States. He and Alexander Hamilton were far from being enemies as being portrayed in the play.
The effectiveness of “Hamilton” lies in the artistic and literary license of Lin Manuel-Miranda imagining these historical figures as people of color..
What would be the response I wonder if Dr Martin Luther King was portrayed by a white Anglo-Saxon male and the song lyrics written by a hard rock band that uses theatrics like “Kiss”?
Yes Lynda, it’s a musical with certain literary license akin to Jesus Christ Superstar performed mostly by white Europeans.
Have you ever seen “Hamilton”?
Hamilton is not a polemic either, it’s meant to be entertaining. The reason of mentioning “Hamilton” was as a conduit that may encourage young people to further their knowledge of history.
Don’t ever watch a historical movie the first thing that flies out the window is accuracy. Ha ha
The quality of your writings is so much more than interesting. Brilliant, unparalleled, heart rending and on and on. Thank you so much for sharing.
Mr. Haskin, always enjoy everything you write. The book on Kelso is great!
There is an old African proverb that says “Everytime an old person dies, a library is lost”.
Indigenous Native Americans passed down the history of the tribe generation to generation with stories. The tribal language is also passed down generation to generation. Today there are very few tribes that till speak their language. This is an example of the African proverb. Every time a tribal elder dies the library of knowledge they had about the history, the tribal teachings and the language is lost forever
Something else we are losing is the beautiful Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains dialect. Each successive generation loses more and more of the dialect. Along with the dialect the stories are being lost…stories told to us by our Grandparents, Great Aunts and Uncles.
Thd younger generations are just not interested and only a few are interested in their ancestry.
So sadly, Steve, I have to agree with you, “history in general is dying”.
Your stories are a legacy that will be handed down generation to generation because they are in print, or you have written books.
The only legacy I am leaving for my Granddaughters and possible great grandchildren is the genealogy of my family tree which is rich in history and how America
was settled.
There are several Southern writers and photographers (most are my age) who are capturing the history of the South in words and photographs and paintings that are their legacy.
The best we can hope for I think is that someday the future generations will read your stories and books, look at the photographs and paintings, read the stories and books written in our dialect and discover their ancestry.
If they do, all will not be lost, the library will not burn down. Just waiting for someone years from now to discover them.
Steve,
After reading last week’s article …. Did you know that… ? (BTW what a great article) and you reminding all of us of some of the greats of yesteryear. I started thinking of some of the greats you have written about Dr Fager, Damascus , Spectacular Bid and of course Secretariat but I went back in my memory bank and could not remember (I am sure you have ) an article you have written about Kelso. And lo and behold you write this article on Kelso and I love it. He was in a class by himself back then and to win HOY 5 times (something we will probably never ever see again) is simply AMAZING !!! Your headline picture says it all and he eye looking at the camera and saying … I’m GOOD !!! I’m GOOD !!!.
I cannot remember if I had seen him actually seen him race but I do remember watching the 1983 Jockey Gold Cup when both he and Forego were paraded before the crowd that day and he was prancing as if ready to go … he was such a champion and then sadly reading 2 days later when he was struck by colic the day after his parade and some saying that it it shouldn’t have been done as he was too old and it was too stressful for him but in other readings I have read he was really enjoying it…. who knows ?!?!?
Once again Steve thanks for the memories and bringing back times when the Sport was truly …. KING !!!
Steve, one of the many things I enjoy about your writing is your ability to take me on an armchair ride on these great horses from the past.
It was indeed a kinder, simpler time that many of us would like to return to, even if just for a day. Maybe that is what Heaven will be like, “eternal yesterdays”.
What a glorious story, so beautifully written. I so wish I had witnessed and experienced those glory years of horse racing, but thankfully we have Steve Haskin to bring those memories to life for so many of us. Thank you, Steve.
We still have those moments. We had Tiznow not once but twice. We had Rachel by 20 in the Oaks, in the Preakness, the Haskell and The Woodward over older males. We had Zenyatta in the Classic. We got to see Goldikova win 3 straight Miles. We have had 2 recent Triple Crown winners. We had Flightline who was never touched in any race.
We’re doing pretty good.
Spot on—now I feel better!
What a fabulous story Steve. It brought back so many wonderful memories. This was the time when a 6 year old girl fell in love with a horse named Kelso and also thoroughbred racing. Since then I have loved them all from the claimers to the greats. They all try so hard and deserve our respect and care. This article is without doubt one of the best I have ever read about Kelso and I thank you for gracing us with your exceptional writing.
Great story Steve, arguably the greatest gelding to ever step on a race track..
I love these old stories. I get to read about horses long since forgotten.
There were some great rivalries in the 1960s
Riden vs Japuir
Damascus s Dr. Fager
Gun Bow vs Kelso
Majestic Prince vs Arts & Letters
Buckpasser vs Graustark (what could have been)
Northern Dancer vs Hill Rise
So many filly & mare rivalries as well.
I hope your summer is going well Steve
Remember when James Bond was so good at Saratoga? It’s been awhile. He’s 0 for 13 at this current meet and winning at only 8% for the year. He has one horse running on Saturday and picks up one of the hot riding Ortiz brothers. One for old times sake?
I was ready to try to beat Good Cheer in the Alabama after her extremely dull performance in the Acorn. However, after watching a replay of the Acorn, she clearly didn’t care for the sloppy track. Spinning her wheels without going anywhere. I can’t explain why she romped over sloppy at Churchill last year. Different kind of sloppy tracks? IDK. I’m leaving her in the mix for now. But Mark Casse looks to control the pace with La Cara and Nitrogen in the catbird seat.
There are pretty sharp people that post on here. Can someone explain to me why the Team Valor horse in the Alabama, Queen Azteca, was able to apparently run in Maiden races her last two starts in Sweden when she entered with 3 wins already? Maybe they have a different definition of “Maiden” in Sweden. BTW, she won again in the first of those races and entered the second “Maiden” race with 4 wins.
Whatever, I project her for around a 90 BSF which gives her a shot at hitting the board.
I saw that race against Malicious on TV in 1965 when I was 11. It was undoubtedly the first time I saw a great horse collar a good one and win. A year later, I was so moved by David Alexander’s chapter on Kelso in “A Sound of Horses,” I wrote to Mrs. Dupont and told her I wanted to write a book about her horse. She wrote me back personally and told me she had passed my letter onto the book club. I guess I was a few years too soon!
Since then I’ve written millions of words as a newspaper and magazine writer, but unfortunately my writing career did not take me down the racing path. Lucky thing yours did, Steve. I probably read Alexander’s chapter on Kelly dozens of times (it was my favorite part of the book), but your column is not only completely fresh, its just as good if not better than the one that so moved me. Great work!
Great story Steve, as usual. I fell in love with horseracing during Kelso’s reign, survived the loss of Ruffian, and have witnessed five Triple Crown winners. I still love horse racing, all because of the plain brown horse with the huge heart. Wow, Steve. Just wow.
I read all your columns and don’t always respond. This one about Kelso really reminded me about what I loved about horse racing back in the 60s. I’m 77 now and growing up in Jersey City, my family followed Yankees baseball, Giants football, and east coast horse racing. in the early 60s, it was easy to be a fan. Carry Back, Bowl of Flowers, Jaipur, Ridan, Sword Dancer, just to name a few. And then there was Kelso.
I want to add a side note about your reference to the allowance race at Monmouth race track. I kind of remember reading around that time in the Daily News that Hanford said that the only way to get a racehorse into condition was by racing. He was so frustrated that the allowance races he tried to enter Kelso in were cancelled because other trainers didn’t want to run against him. He had to find a race and enter at the very last minute. I’m not sure if it was that particular race.
Thank you for your wonderful, insightful work in bringing these memories back.
Kelso was before my time, and back in the early 1960s, if you lived on the west coast you didn’t get to see those champions, and Kelso won FIVE Horse of the Year championships! That won’t ever happen again…Forego won three—and John Henry won two, but his were amazing, he won HOY at age SIX and age NINE! At none, John was at he best—his final work, before his career ending injury—he was age TEN, and worked one mile on turf, at Hollywood Park in 1:34 flat!….Kelso did come west, twice–he ran fifth, both times, at Hollywood Park, and nobody held it against him…just like when Seattle Slew was beaten by 16 lengths, at Hollywood Park—he came back to a standing ovation, 68,000 including me—Johannes just ran up the track, at Saratoga—Native Diver got trounced, when he went back east—Lava Man, as well….Sky Beaury didn’t win out west….sometimes great ones don’t run great, when they ship cross cpuntry—Saratoga get ready for Sweet Azteca—you are on for a real treat, she is a great one..
It’s been 18 months, since Maymum ran his 2nd race….he sports six straight gate works, all 6 fur—by Tapit/Indian Charlie–3/4 to Flightline, who could run big, off layoffs—I thought he looked like him, as well….I wonder where and when he will resurface—Full Serrano is nearing a return, last seen winning the stacked 2024 Dirt Mile….the horse I was wondering about—Subsanador—has not worked in 11 months….
I loved the way Maymun battled back on the rail in his last race. Hope he makes it back. Full Serrano was the one wagering bright spot for me in last year’s BC. Love that kind of sustained speed, if he is still the same horse.
Sierra Leone then Full Serrano got me back near even, last year….Full Serrano ran lights out, he should be fine coming back..
Matthew, I’ve been trying to work backwards from the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile to speculate when and where Maymun may run. No luck with that. Ha ha
Just in passing, Maymun is by Frosted so I think a mile might be Maymun’s limit. Who knows. It’s been a long, long wait let’s hope he doesn’t disappoint.
Well my bad, I thought Maymum was a Tapit..
Matthew, I just noted that Maymum has been nominated for the Pat O’Brien Stakes next Saturday. It’ll be interesting to see if he runs.
Matthew: I was just thinking about him yesterday, I never did see a retirement article on him. He had so much promise.
Horse racing can be so cruel…………
BTW, once in a blue moon we got to see a east coast horse come out west.
Royal Glint in the Santa Anita Handicap in 1976. He beat Ancient Title, whom I bet that day.
Your posts are always informative & fun to read.
Thanks, Deacon! Royalty Glint, Ancient Title and Forwgo–‘three millionaire gelding, from that 1970 crop! I daw Ancient Title beat him, I think it was the 1976 Californian….Ancient Title got into the Hall of Fame, it took decades, I was told he got in because of his Whitney win—and I don’t think Royal Glint ever got voted in, he was a Midwest based son of Round Table that did not get much respect—I think he may have broken down, am not sure about that–i, too enjoy your postings, about those “great old days”….
(Perdon my spelling, I have lost some of my sight)..
I remember Kelso with great love and admiration. I was able to see him run every race at New York. I would climb the chain link fence by the finish line, with high heels and a dress, to see my idol come racing down the stretch with the small yellow bow, tied around his forelock. I’m sure, if anyone took their eyes off Kelso, they got a free show.
What an inspiring piece, Steve. Like Davids, I went to my bookshelf and pulled out “Kelso”, which I’m going to sit down and re-read this afternoon.
Beth, what i found amazing in Steve’s book, apart from the scholarship, is at the back it has every race result Kelso was involved in. The list is simply extraordinary, the visual impact astounding.
I completely agree, Davids. It’s astounding, especially when viewed from our modern perspective.
Dear Steve, this piece has got me thinking in a few different directions. One the use of the word Great. In the last 61 years the term has been used to describe many but fall short of the meaning. Kelso’s record can only be described as GREAT. His greatness was achieved not only by his achievements on dirt and turf but by the lead weights in his saddle. I would like to see a statue of him in the new Belmont Park. We all know he deserves one. L’est we forget!
Steve, I was so enchanted by your column that I’m rereading “Kelso” – Steve Haskin. I think I’ll skip over the few pages that followed the 1983 Jockey Club Gold Cup meet up with Forego.
Thank you Steve. You fullfilled the credo of “leave them wanting more.” More Kelso and the lost world he inhabited and enriched. Perfect.
What a fantastic story, Steve! I enjoyed this so much, especially the inspiration Kelso gave to Heather Noble. What an incredible horse he was. They sure don’t make ’em like that anymore.
Mrs. du Pont named a half-sister to Kelso Heather Noble, a lovely tribute to a loyal fan.
What a wonderful thing to do! I bet Heather was thrilled. Thanks for mentioning that.