FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 20, 2023
Kelso, Where He Gallops, The Earth Sings
The City of Aiken Parks, Recreation and Tourism will host an exhibit about Five-Time Horse of the Year, Kelso through October 12, 2023 at the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum.
The exhibit features a timeline of Kelso’s most important moments and The Blood-Horse magazine covers that featured Kelso.
Kelso was sired by Your Host and his dam was Maid of Flight. He was foaled at Claiborne Farm on April 5, 1957. Allaire duPont bred and owned Kelso, a dark brown gelding. duPont once said of him, “Where he gallops, the earth sings.”.
Kelso is considered one of the greatest racehorses in history. Kelso is fourth in The Blood-Horse publication; Thoroughbred Champions, Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th Century. Kelso’s five Horse of the Year
titles is ranked third in The Blood-Horse publication; Horse Racing’s Top 100 Moments.
He trained in the early 1960’s at the historic Aiken Training Track. The late Cot Campbell, President of Dogwood Stable, said in a 2011 interview with the Daily Racing Form that Kelso was the best horse he had ever seen.
Kelso’s amazing race career included 39 wins in 63 races and $1,977,896 in earnings. His major race wins include:
Jockey Club Gold Cup: 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964
Suburban Handicap: 1961, 1963
Stymie Handicap: 1962, 1965
Washington, D.C., International: 1964
Whitney Stakes: 1961, 1963, 1965
Woodward Stakes: 1961, 1962,1963
Kelso was recognized as the 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964 Horse of the Year, the 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964 Champion Older Horse and the 1960 Champion 3-Year-Old Colt.
His five Horse of the Year titles is a record that stills stands today. He was elected to the National Racing Hall of Fame in 1967 and to the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall in 1977.
The exhibit is open and free to the public during regular museum hours.
The Hall of Fame is open Tuesday – Friday from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
For more information, call 803-642-7631, e-mail halloffame@cityofaikensc.gov or visit the Hall of Fame website at www.aikenracinghalloffame.com.
