He also told Chick Lang that Kelso was the best horse he eve rode! He said that as long as his friend Jimmy Jones was alive he would always say that Citation was the greatest he ever rode.A quote from the book "Kelso" by Steve Haskins " I'd never say this in public while Jimmy is alive, because if I did, he'd be on the phone the next day and he'd really be upset with me. But between you and me, I'm going to tell you right here, that the greatest horse I ever rode was Kelso."
I kept a scrap book on Kelso and he made the 1960's enjoyable for me. As the late Joe Hirsch once wrote: "Once upon a time there was a horse named KELSO, but only once!"
I always took the upmost respect what the horse racing experts say about Kelso & Secretariat. Eddie Araco rode Kelso in some of his races. He told Bill Christine in a interview in 1996 that Citation was the best 3 yr. old he ever rode. Kelso the best 4 yr. old he ever rode But rated Secretariat the best he ever seen. I figure if anyone would have known it would be Eddie. Its his opinion & mine as well.
RIP King Kelly. I wasn't born during your time but I got the chance to watch you and instantly and seamlessly I fell into to your spell. You'll remain my "mostest hoss"
I believe that when carrying heavy weight it takes courage and heart to make it to the finish line in front. I am a firm believer that Kelso's courage and heart came from his sire Your Host, his story is one to blow you away. My short little video response is only the surface of his strength and courage, I'm hoping to update and improve it :)
The one thing that Kelso did better than any other horse who ever lived, and was known for, was carry extreme weight for most of his illustrious and indelible career. Kelso could've been an excellent turf horse, like Secretariat. Lucien Laurin and Ron Turcotte both thought Secretariat could've been even better on the grass. I would've loved to have seen Secretariat run in the Arc if he had run as a 4-year-old.
Hear, hear, well said. It's a feat that will never be duplicated. I read "The Horse Of Gold" a few months back, and am mighty impressed at Kelso's natural abilities, and the pure strength he showed to carry the heavy imposts that were put on him.
Take care.
How many horses set an American track record for 2 miles on the dirt and then come back and set an American track record on the grass 11 days later? He also ran around 3 turns in the International. Beyond remarkable!
I believe durability and sustained excellence are underrated characteristics when people rate horses. This guy scores maximum points for this criterion.
1964 was a year of a very bad drought in the Northeast and the Laurel track reflected it---it was rock-hard for the International. Still, it was a remarkable performance by "Kelly." How many 7 year olds have done what he did that day and throughout the summer and fall of '64?
Horses were certainly more durable back then and in 1964 Kelso and Gun Bow ran against each other in the Brooklyn on 7/25, the Aqueduct on 9/7, the Woodward on 10/3 and the DC Int. on 11/11. During that period, Kelso also won the Jockey Club while Gun Bow ran in the Man of War. So each ran 5 races in 3 and 1/2 months. Can anyone imagine Big Brown and Curlin racing against each other that often? It just doesn't happen. Cheers to a great era of horse racing.
The only time I will debate with people,is when they make really uninformed judgements on particular horses. Otherwise I enjoy to read about,and or watch race horses,present and past. I have one failing,I do not suffer fools at all. I fully understand your point about defending Big Red. Take care!
evyn10014 Says:
29/09/2011 3:30:07 AM
Yes, didn't Arcaro say off the record that Kelso would have kicked Citation's butt if they raced? But in more colorful language?
tucsonagent Says:
17/07/2011 5:41:19 PM
Kelso, HOY 5 times in a row. JCGC at TWO MILES 5 years in a row. Huh? I think that's all we need to say.
theotherdoutzen Says:
17/06/2011 5:37:54 PM
Most underrated ever. Man o war and count fleets blood in him.
cf1934 Says:
15/03/2011 3:12:47 AM
He also told Chick Lang that Kelso was the best horse he eve rode! He said that as long as his friend Jimmy Jones was alive he would always say that Citation was the greatest he ever rode.A quote from the book "Kelso" by Steve Haskins " I'd never say this in public while Jimmy is alive, because if I did, he'd be on the phone the next day and he'd really be upset with me. But between you and me, I'm going to tell you right here, that the greatest horse I ever rode was Kelso."
bbmtge Says:
10/01/2011 7:37:52 AM
10/4...will check it out. I did not realize until lately that Prove Out's 1973 2 mile JGC time was second only to some of Kelso's.
cf1970 Says:
9/01/2011 5:31:21 PM
I posted a two part series of Kelso and the JCGC quite a while ago. Check it out!
bbmtge Says:
3/01/2011 1:44:03 PM
cf1970...as you are a master of resources...do you think you can get video of Kelso in his 2-mile Jockey Gold Cup performances??? Thank you!!!
cf1934 Says:
3/01/2011 1:02:27 PM
I kept a scrap book on Kelso and he made the 1960's enjoyable for me. As the late Joe Hirsch once wrote: "Once upon a time there was a horse named KELSO, but only once!"
rscarbro100 Says:
25/12/2010 3:43:36 AM
I always took the upmost respect what the horse racing experts say about Kelso & Secretariat. Eddie Araco rode Kelso in some of his races. He told Bill Christine in a interview in 1996 that Citation was the best 3 yr. old he ever rode. Kelso the best 4 yr. old he ever rode But rated Secretariat the best he ever seen. I figure if anyone would have known it would be Eddie. Its his opinion & mine as well.
Bolzovfire Says:
20/12/2010 5:37:40 AM
RIP King Kelly. I wasn't born during your time but I got the chance to watch you and instantly and seamlessly I fell into to your spell. You'll remain my "mostest hoss"
GoldenOakFarm Says:
22/11/2010 1:52:55 AM
I believe that when carrying heavy weight it takes courage and heart to make it to the finish line in front. I am a firm believer that Kelso's courage and heart came from his sire Your Host, his story is one to blow you away. My short little video response is only the surface of his strength and courage, I'm hoping to update and improve it :)
GoldenOakFarm Says:
16/10/2010 12:52:35 AM
Everyone knows of Kelso...but what about his valiant sire Your Host? Check out my video titled "Your Host - The Horse Full of Heart" for his story.
theOlLineRebel Says:
9/09/2010 1:52:46 PM
Fascinating - a BARRIER start? Was this common for turf even then?
jtierney1963 Says:
11/03/2010 2:41:56 PM
The one thing that Kelso did better than any other horse who ever lived, and was known for, was carry extreme weight for most of his illustrious and indelible career. Kelso could've been an excellent turf horse, like Secretariat. Lucien Laurin and Ron Turcotte both thought Secretariat could've been even better on the grass. I would've loved to have seen Secretariat run in the Arc if he had run as a 4-year-old.
cf1970 Says:
8/10/2009 10:11:58 AM
Hear, hear, well said. It's a feat that will never be duplicated. I read "The Horse Of Gold" a few months back, and am mighty impressed at Kelso's natural abilities, and the pure strength he showed to carry the heavy imposts that were put on him. Take care.
cf1934 Says:
8/10/2009 3:21:27 AM
How many horses set an American track record for 2 miles on the dirt and then come back and set an American track record on the grass 11 days later? He also ran around 3 turns in the International. Beyond remarkable!
schardy80 Says:
14/09/2009 7:18:04 PM
I believe durability and sustained excellence are underrated characteristics when people rate horses. This guy scores maximum points for this criterion.
battenwood Says:
3/05/2009 9:24:57 AM
1964 was a year of a very bad drought in the Northeast and the Laurel track reflected it---it was rock-hard for the International. Still, it was a remarkable performance by "Kelly." How many 7 year olds have done what he did that day and throughout the summer and fall of '64?
Tuddyboy11 Says:
17/12/2008 8:06:44 AM
Horses were certainly more durable back then and in 1964 Kelso and Gun Bow ran against each other in the Brooklyn on 7/25, the Aqueduct on 9/7, the Woodward on 10/3 and the DC Int. on 11/11. During that period, Kelso also won the Jockey Club while Gun Bow ran in the Man of War. So each ran 5 races in 3 and 1/2 months. Can anyone imagine Big Brown and Curlin racing against each other that often? It just doesn't happen. Cheers to a great era of horse racing.
BE109 Says:
29/07/2008 5:49:41 AM
The only time I will debate with people,is when they make really uninformed judgements on particular horses. Otherwise I enjoy to read about,and or watch race horses,present and past. I have one failing,I do not suffer fools at all. I fully understand your point about defending Big Red. Take care!