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32-632: The event was originally named the Kelso Handicap in honor of Kelso , Allaire du Pont 's five-time winner of American Horse of the Year honors. Kelso won the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park five times (1960–1964) consecutively at the then distance of 2 miles on the dirt. Fittingly NYRA scheduled the inaugural running of the Kelso Handicap over two miles at Aqueduct on 23 October 1980. At

64-417: A few stakes horses before, they didn't compare with Kelso. There is an old saying on the racetrack that 'a good horse is dangerous in anybody's hands.' How true that is. Of all the top trainers in the past that have had this honor, I may be a little bit prejudiced, but I don't think any one of them had their hands on a horse like Kelso." One of the greatest turf writers in history, Joe Hirsch, wrote, "Once upon

96-691: A handicap to a stakes allowance. In 2023 NYRA renamed the event to the Forty Niner Stakes after the late stallion Forty Niner , a winner of several NYRA Grade 1 stakes. Saratoga Race Course 's Forbidden Apple Stakes was in turn renamed to the Kelso Stakes . Speed record: Margins: Most wins: Most wins by an owner: Most wins by a jockey : Most wins by a trainer : Legend:    Dirt    Turf List of American and Canadian Graded races Kelso (horse) Kelso (April 4, 1957 – October 16, 1983)

128-787: A mile with Mr. Trouble, Your Host faded badly. In the second-fastest Derby yet run (timed at 2:01 3/5) he lost to Middleground , finishing an exhausted ninth. He then returned to California and shorter races, where he won the Thanksgiving Day Handicap, the Golden State Breeders' Handicap, the Kent Stakes, the Dick Welles Stakes, and the Sheridan Handicap. He placed in the Premiere Handicap and finished third in

160-499: A new track record of 1:48 1/5 for 1 1 ⁄ 8 miles. On January 13, entered in the San Pasqual Handicap , Your Host clipped heels with Renown. His jockey, Eric Guerin (who had been having difficulty rating him), rolled clear but Your Host fell heavily on his right shoulder. His right ulna bone in his foreleg was fractured in four places, and his right shoulder and upper leg were also fractured. The first to get to him

192-425: A racehorse?' 'I don't have to,' I replied. 'Let's say I just sit there with my fingers crossed and hope a little.'" Trained by Dr. John Lee and racing for Ms. du Pont's nom de course Bohemia Stable, Kelso, ridden by John Block, made his two-year-old debut on September 4, 1959, at Atlantic City Race Course (at that time one of the country's premier tracks). The race was an ordinary maiden event (which he won). He

224-459: A successful sire; in his first California crops, he sired stakes winners Miss Todd, Social Climber and Blen Host. He also produced Windy Sands, who in turn sired Crystal Water. Later, he stood at Meadow View Farms in New Jersey where he sired Kelso, out of Maid of Flight (daughter of Count Fleet and granddaughter of Man o' War ). Kelso was five times American Horse of the Year and was rated #4 in

256-415: A three-year-old (and first win for Hanford) was at Monmouth Park . Hanford said, "He was an extremely determined horse. If he saw a horse in front, he wanted to get to him. You could take him back or send him to the front. He was an extremely sound horse who was light on his feet with incredible balance. Kelso could wheel on a dime, spinning round in a circle and never letting his feet touch each other." After

288-474: A time there was a horse named Kelso. But only once." As a gelding , Kelso could not be retired to stud . Instead, he went on to a second career as a hunter and show jumper . In 1967, he was elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame . On October 15, 1983, the 26-year-old Kelso paraded prior to the start of the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park along with champion horse Forego and

320-696: A unanimous choice for his fourth DRF title, as well as taking the Horse of the Year awards of the Thoroughbred Racing Association and Turf and Sport Digest magazine. Kelso again swept the Horse of the Year awards by all three organisations in 1964. Unlike many top racehorses, Kelso took a while to warm up his career. He competed for eight seasons, from 1959 to 1966. As his career reached its zenith, so did his popularity, and huge crowds flocked to see him. Kelso competed on fourteen tracks, won in six states, set nine track records (plus two American records),

352-461: Is ranked #5 by The Blood-Horse . Before he set foot on a track, owner Allaire du Pont had him gelded in the hopes of calming him down. According to many, it did not work; Kelso was never a well-mannered horse. He was named for Mrs. du Pont's friend Kelso Everett and, like Mr. Everett, who went by the nickname of "Kelly", so did the horse. The Right Rev. Arthur Raymond McKinstry was known as Kelso's chaplain. Talking to reporters, McKinstry said, "On

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384-873: The American Derby and the Arlington Classic . As a three-year-old, Your Host defeated eventual Horse of the Year Hill Prince , who had finished second in the Derby. He also defeated Kentucky Derby winner Ponder . Early in 1951, Your Host's four-year-old season, he finished second to Bolero while conceding five pounds in the San Carlos Handicap and then won the Santa Catalina Stakes under 130 pounds (59 kg). Although during this race Your Host's saddle slipped forward, nearly unseating his rider, he set

416-452: The Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita Park . In 1994 Lure just failed to win the event, beaten by a nose carrying 128 pounds and giving 14 pounds to the winner Nijinsky's Gold in a thrilling stretch battle. The event in 2022 was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park . The event was moved to late October and the conditions of the changed from

448-937: The Monmouth race, he won eight of his next nine starts: a mile race at Aqueduct Racetrack in a record for a three-year-old at that distance, the Choice Stakes, the Jerome Handicap , the Discovery Handicap , the Lawrence Realization Stakes , the Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap and the 2 mile Jockey Club Gold Cup (the latter two against older horses). In the Lawrence Realization, he equaled Man O 'War's time of 2 min 40 + 4 ⁄ 5 s for 1 + 5 ⁄ 8 miles (2.6 km). In 1960, Kelso

480-525: The event was renewed as a 1 + 1 ⁄ 4 miles turf race on an all stakes card at Belmont Park which included the Jockey Club Gold Cup inheriting the classification status of Grade III from the Brighton Beach Handicap which became defunct with its last race on 24 August 1983. In 1988 the event was shortened to one mile. In 1997 the event was upgraded to Grade II. In 2009, it had been originally being scheduled for turf before being moved to

512-500: The imported British stallion Alibhai out of the Irish mare Boudoir by the French stallion Mahmoud. Bred in the stables of Louis B. Mayer (head of Metro Goldwyn Mayer ), Your Host was owned by Mayer's son-in-law (film producer William Goetz ) and trained by Harry L. Daniels. Despite illness and injury he had a successful racing career, and went on to sire the great gelding Kelso . Your Host

544-493: The main track due to extremely heavy rain the day before and consequently was down graded to Grade III. In 2010 the event was moved to the main dirt track. Of the more notable winners of the event is Lure . Lure ran in the event three times winning in 1993 and finishing second twice in 1992 and 1994. In 1992 although finishing second as a three-year-old later that year he went on to win the Breeders' Cup Mile . In 1993 after winning this event he followed up in his next start winning

576-552: The occasion of President Johnson and Mrs. Johnson's 30th wedding anniversary, the White House reporters asked me if I had any other claim to fame. I thought a little while and then had to confess to them that, among my friends in Wilmington, I am casually spoken of as the private chaplain for the great racehorse, Kelso. Taken aback, one reporter turned and asked me, 'Do you mean to say that you direct heavenly words to God on behalf of

608-500: The press began to call "The Magnificent Cripple" was favored to win the 76th Kentucky Derby in 1950. Your Host arrived at Churchill Downs with great fanfare. The sign on his Hollywood connections' railroad car read, "1950 Kentucky Derby Winner". Although ridden by Johnny Longden (who was inducted into both the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame and the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame ), and dueling for

640-867: The skill of his veterinarians and his own will to live saved his life. As a two-year-old, Your Host won the California Breeders' Champion Stakes , the Del Mar Futurity , and finished second in the Salinas Handicap and the Homebred Stakes. At three, he won the San Felipe Stakes and the Santa Anita Derby ; he also won a race at Keeneland Race Course by 6 1 ⁄ 2 lengths in track-record time, beating Flamingo Stakes winner Oil Capitol and Blue Grass Stakes winner Mr. Trouble. The horse

672-510: The still active John Henry in front of a crowd of over 32,000 spectators. It was Kelso's final public appearance – he died the next day on October 16, 1983. He is buried in the equine cemetery at Allaire du Pont's Woodstock Farm in Chesapeake City, Maryland . Your Host (horse) Your Host (1947–1961) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse . Foaled in California, he was by

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704-471: The time the event was the only $ 100,000 two mile event on the dirt in the US. The former claimer Peat Moss won the inaugural event as a 24-1 longshot in a time of 3:24 3 ⁄ 5 . Peat Moss would repeat his winning ways the following year carrying a high-weight of 126 pounds. The 1982 running would be the last time the event would be held at the marathon distance. In 1983 the event was not held. On 20 October 1984

736-716: The track, Your Host was expected to die; his veterinarians felt there was no point in prolonging his suffering. The horse was insured by Lloyd's of London , which purchased and managed to save him. Sent to the Circle S Ranch of George Stratton, he was attended by Dr. John Walker, who tried everything to immobilize the injury. In the end, he packed the horse in sand to keep him steady. Your Host eventually recovered; however, his right foreleg healed shorter than his left. Your Host ran in 23 races, won 13 times, placed 5 times, and came in third twice. In his lifetime, he won $ 384,795. Lloyd's of London sent Your Host to stud, where he quickly became

768-403: Was Carl Hanford (inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2006), who handled him for the remainder of his career. Bill Hartack was his jockey for a short time, followed by Eddie Arcaro , who rode Kelso from mid-1960 to November 1961, when he retired as a jockey. In 1962, Ismael Valenzuela became Kelso's principal rider for more than three years. Kelso's first start as

800-556: Was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who is considered one of the greatest racehorses in history. He ranks fourth on the Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th Century . He defeated more champions and Hall of Fame horses than any other racehorse, and he often carried great handicaps. Some of the champions he defeated are Carry Back , Gun Bow , Bald Eagle , Tompion , Never Bend , Beau Purple , Quadrangle , Roman Brother , Crimson Satan , Jaipur , Ridan and Pia Star . Kelso's pedigree

832-438: Was foaled with his right eye and ear set higher than his left, a crooked neck, low withers and light flanks. It was said his neck was twisted due to a youthful injury, but his groom claimed he held his head oddly in order to see properly. Your Host was nervous, headstrong and often uncontrollable. A chestnut , he had four white stockings (considered unlucky by some horsemen). At age two Your Host became seriously ill, and only

864-403: Was his exercise rider, Tuffy Morlan. Morlan later said, "There he stood, broken and in horrible pain, but his funny cock-eyed head was up and he whinnied at me, a faint, desperate sound. It was the first time he had ever asked me for help. I knew he needed me then and I could do nothing but take him by the head and weep. I don't think I ever felt so empty and lost as at that moment." Vanned off

896-464: Was lightly regarded in his second start ten days later, when he finished second. The gelding was the favorite in his third race, which was shortly after his second and in which he again placed second. He did not race again as a two-year-old. Kelso's three-year-old season began after the Triple Crown races of 1960 were run. Dr. John Lee had returned to his veterinary practice, and Kelso's new trainer

928-498: Was surpassed by Affirmed in 1979. Of Kelso's 63 starts, he won 39, placed 12 times and finished third twice. He was out of the money 10 times. His record probably would have been even better if not for the huge weight allowances he spotted his rivals under handicap conditions for much of his career. Accepting his Hall of Fame award in August 2006, Carl Hanford said, "I am here today because of one horse and one horse only. Although I've had

960-416: Was the all-time leading money-winner at his retirement and was beloved by racing fans for his courage and consistency. In March 1966, Kelso suffered a hairline fracture of the inside sesamoid of his right hind foot. Hanford immediately retired him at age nine. Kelso left the track as racing's all-time leading money winner with lifetime earnings of $ 1,977,896. This earnings record held for 14 years, until it

992-417: Was undistinguished. Born at Claiborne Farm near Paris, Kentucky , he was sired by a well-known racehorse who was an unproven stallion, Your Host . Kelso's dam was the unheralded Maid of Flight (although her sire was Count Fleet and her grandsire was Man o' War ). Kelso was her first foal; he was scrawny, runty and hard to handle. He was a maternal grandson of U.S. Triple Crown champion Count Fleet , who

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1024-517: Was voted Three-Year-Old Champion Male and received the American Horse of the Year award ahead of Bald Eagle . At age four in 1961, Kelso won seven of nine starts. That year, he was voted Champion Older Horse and again Horse of the Year. In 1962, he won a third Horse of the Year title, taking 28 of the 32 votes in the Daily Racing Form poll. A year later, he was even more dominant, being

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