The first time that Trainer Carl Hanford saw Kelso, the walnut gelding seemed hardly worth a glance: he had won only one race and $3,380. Last week—four years, 28 victories and $1,411,817 later—Kelso paraded to the post at Aqueduct, the 1-4 favorite to win the H-mi. Woodward Stakes. At six, when most thoroughbreds are munching blue grass in retirement, the great-grandson of Man o’ War was still running for his dinner, looking for his seventh stakes victory in a row.
Kelso’s record was enough to scare off most opponents: only five horses showed up to contest the $108,800 race. They made up in quality what they lacked in quantity: included in the field were Never Bend, a sleek bay sprinter who had earned more money as a two-year-old ($402,969) than any horse in history, and Carry Back, the 1961 Derby Winner and a millionaire in his own right (winnings: $1,197,115). Willie Shoemaker was riding Never Bend, and his strategy was simple: get out in front and stay there. Driving out of the gate, he opened up a four-length lead at the clubhouse turn. Aboard Kelso, Jockey Ismael Valenzuela tucked in along the rail and patiently bided his time. In the backstretch, Carry Back began to challenge, but Kelso moved alongside—and Carry Back wilted. Valenzuela clucked to Kel so, and the champion went after Never Bend. For a few brief seconds the two horses raced head to head. Then Never Bend bent. Without ever feeling the bite of Valenzuela’s whip, Kelso drew away, galloped to an easy, 31-length victory. The richest horse racing anywhere in the world had added another $70,720 to his bankroll.