During Kelso's racing career the records show he was among 60,000 in competition. From 1959-1964 Kelso was the leading money winner among the top horses of the world, and those included, Round Table, Nashua, Carry Back, Citation, Swaps, Armed, Bold Ruler, etc. He is the only horse in history to be five time "Horse of the Year" and five time winner of the "Jockey Club Gold Cup" a race that no longer is run at 2 miles where all the best horses of the world are invited to run on grass. Kelso defeated the best the world could put against him in these Gold Cup races. Kelso still holds the 2 mile record at 3:19 1/5. Kelso also holds the American record for 1 1/2 miles on grass at Laurel's Washington International at a time of 2:23 4/5 which is faster than Secretariat's legendary win in the 1973 Belmont on dirt of 2:24. Kelso was seven years old at the time and had 15 track records. Kelso was not a large horse, but he was assigned over 130 lbs on 24 occasions and up to 136 lbs. Eddie Arcaro said the breaking point for a horse is 130 lbs and Kelso won 11, placed 2nd 5 times carrying over 130 lbs. Kelso won the Handicap Triple Crown in 100 degree heat in the fastest time ever and no horse has done so before or since. Kelso defeated Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Carryback and Belmont winner Quadrangle and also defeated such turf specialists as Mongo and Gun Bow. Kelso could run on any surface and placed in the money in all but 10 of his 63 races. Kelso was not as pretty as Secretariat, was gelded so he could not reproduce like Man O War, but when all is considered, Kelso was the greatest racehorse of all time. Eddie Arcaro himself said "Kelso was the best horse of any age." Nothing can be taken away from Secretariat, the greatest Triple Crown winner, or Man O War, a legend, or Citation who at three won 27 of 29 and could have won all if not held back, but for six years Kelso proved he was the greatest and his unbelievable record proves it. No horse ever did what Kelso accomplished for so long, and no horse will ever again be five time Horse of the Year. Kelso, when all is considered is without equal!
