Kelso ' s exercise rider writes memoir

[Shammy_Davis]

You can read it on line for free. Sadly Dickie Jenkins passed away before completing it, but still a wonderful opportunity to read a first hand view of one of greatest racehorses ever.

http://colinsghost.org/dickie-jenkins-and-the-legendary-racehorse-kelso

[MsM]

Thanks. A fascinating view of my childhood racehorse crush!

[2tempe]

I followed Kelso’s career race by race starting when he was 4 or so. I was a kid, but hooked even then on horses. What a fabulous horse he was back when they ran more often, ran longer races and he was just a rock.

This is interesting, particularly the little colics and some of his antics.
Thanks for posting!

[The_Equestrian_Vagab]

He was before my time but I’m still fascinated by him. thanks for posting this!

[MsM]

I didn’t know he was so difficult in the mornings. Dickie obviously loved him and found other reasons for any loss.

Very interesting to read about trying to keep him from looking “too good”. Back then older horses ran in handicaps and if he blew away the field in one race he would carry a lot more in the next, so they had to try to do “just enough”. Still gave away lots of weight to opponents.

Kelso must have mellowed a god bit in retirement as I believe his owner rode him (And owner’s daughter who became an Olympic rider!)

[Shammy_Davis]

As I recall Allaire du Pont rode him as a field hunter. An aspiring young journalist named Steven Crist wrote the NY Times obituary.

http://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/18/sports/kelso-dies-of-colic-at-26.html

[Maythehorsebewithme]

Shammy Davis, thanks so much for this.
My favorite race horse of all time! I still have a win ticket on him for the 1964 Aqueduct Stakes, when he ran down Gun Bow in the stretch. I was 17, my uncle took me to the track and put the bet down for me. I would not let him cash the ticket.
The crowd was incredible that day–got louder and louder, and louder still after he won. He was much loved by his fans.