JC / Railbird

History/Archives Archive

Kelso at Aqueduct

Kelso, center, with Never Bend to the left and Crimson Satan to the right. Photo by George Silk (LIFE).

The caption on this undated photo, found browsing the LIFE archive now on Google (via), is simply “Kelso Horse,” but the picture is almost certainly of the 1963 Woodward Stakes, then held at Aqueduct, which Kelso won by 3 1/2 lengths as the 1-4 favorite. It was his third win in the Woodward (Kelso would finish second by a nose to Gun Bow in 1964) and his eighth victory of the year; in 1963, Kelso not only won the Woodward, but the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Whitney, Suburban, and Gulfstream Handicap, going 9-for-12 and earning a fourth straight Horse of the Year title.

A crowd of 50,234 was at the Big A to see the famous gelding face a small, but deep, field that included two juvenile champions (Never Bend, second, and Crimson Satan, third) and 1961 Kentucky Derby winner Carry Back (fourth), who was then fourth on the all-time earnings list. Kelso was second (the retired Round Table led with more than $1.7 million in purses) and this Woodward marked the first time two horses with earnings of more than $1 million met on track.

The race was run much as expected, with Never Bend the pacesetter and Kelso taking over at the 3/16 pole. “Speed to spare,” reads the chart. According to the NYT, “When Kelso was guided by Valenzuela into the lead … he was hailed by a steady flood of applause … the cheers were steady and spontaneous, unlike the shrieking and hysterical shouts that are offered up to a pure betting representative.” That must have been something to hear.

A few other striking photos from the archive: Seabiscuit, after winning the Santa Anita Handicap, Busher, “having ankles strapped,” and trainer Sunny Fitzsimmons, “sadly gazing at racehorse Nashua.”

Posted in History/Archives on November 20, 2008 / Tagged Kelso

They Come From the South

Thanks to commenter Dylbert for mentioning Canonero II and giving me another excuse to dive into the Sports Illustrated Vault. The 1971 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner’s name has been bubbling up lately in relation to mystery Peruvian horse Tomcito, scheduled to start in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream on Saturday.
The two are terrific racing stories: Both Kentucky-breds, each was purchased for a modest price at a Keeneland sale and shipped to South America, where both became winners. Canonero, however, arrived in the United States two weeks before the Kentucky Derby, losing four days training time in quarantine, and little was known of his record when he went to post at Churchill. His 3 3/4-length Derby upset was considered a fluke, a notion dispelled when he won the Preakness in record time. Canonero then headed to New York to try for the Triple Crown, where he stunned fans by finishing fourth in the Belmont as the 3-5 favorite.
More is known about Tomcito: The winner of the 1 1/2-mile Derby Nacional in 2007 has been working in Florida since February and his races can be viewed on YouTube. Whether the Street Cry colt is good enough for the Kentucky Derby — well, like Canonero on the first Saturday in May, no one knows yet. Expect to hear a lot about the Pride of Venezuela, though, if the Pride of Peru quickens Derby dreams with a strong showing this weekend.

Posted in History/Archives, Racing on March 24, 2008 / Tagged Kentucky Derby

SI Opens the Vault

Sports Illustrated has launched an amazing new online feature called SI Vault, which makes available 54 years of articles, photographs, and covers. Check out this incredible trove of horse racing materials. It’s all there — Julie Krone, “The Best Woman Jockey Ever“; Steve Cauthen, “Sportsman of the Year“; Secretariat; Ruffian; Kelso; the bizarre story of a Uruguayan ringer at Belmont; a photo spread on the grandes dames of racing; the nation’s No. 1 Race Track Character; the story of why Derby and Preakness winner Majestic Prince skipped the Belmont; the 1959 opening of Aqueduct and the origins of NYRA; and so much more …

Posted in History/Archives on March 20, 2008

From the Archives

Tennis player Chris Evert meets her namesake, champion filly Chris Evert, at Hollywood Park, 1975:

More from the UCLA library digital collection of 5,746 photos culled from the Los Angeles Times and Daily News archives: Check out pics of grooms striking at Santa Anita; Mary Bacon training at Hollywood Park; and great California jockeys, with and without movie stars.

Posted in History/Archives on February 25, 2008