The Kelso Stakes is an American race for Thoroughbred horse race

Thoroughbred horse race

Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...

 run annually in late September/early October at Belmont Park

Belmont Park

Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...

 in Elmont, New York

Elmont, New York

Elmont is an unincorporated census-designated place located in the northwest corner of the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, along its border with the borough of Queens in New York City...

. A Grade II

Graded stakes race

A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...

 event open to horses, age three and up, it was contested on turf

Grass

Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...

 over a distance of one mile (8 furlong

Furlong

A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....

s) from 1988-2008. The race was moved to the dirt

Dirt

Dirt is unclean matter, especially when in contact with a person's clothes, skin or possessions when they are said to become dirty. Common types of dirt include:* dust — a general powder of organic or mineral matter...

 at the same distance in 2010. It had been originally being scheduled for turf before being moved to the main track in 2009 due to extremely heavy rain the day before.

The race is named for Kelso

Kelso (horse)

Kelso was an American thoroughbred race horse considered among the best racehorses of the 20th century. In the list of the top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century by The Blood-Horse magazine Kelso ranks 4th, behind only Man o' War , Secretariat and Citation...

, Allaire du Pont's

Allaire du Pont

Allaire du Pont was an American sportswoman and a member of the prominent French-American Du Pont family of chemical manufacturers who is most remembered as the owner of the Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame champion, Kelso....

 five-time winner of American Horse of the Year honors. This incarnation of the Kelso had been run as the Brighton Beach Handicap through 1983, with the last running of the Brighton Beach at 1 1/16 Miles on turf. There was an earlier version of the Kelso that had three runnings at two miles on dirt

Dirt

Dirt is unclean matter, especially when in contact with a person's clothes, skin or possessions when they are said to become dirty. Common types of dirt include:* dust — a general powder of organic or mineral matter...

 from 1980-'82 before that race was discontinued, with the Brighton Beach renamed the Kelso in 1984. Probably the most notable winner of the earlier incarnation of the current Kelso Stakes when it was the Brighton Beach Handicap was John Henry

John Henry (horse)

John Henry was an American Thoroughbred race horse who had 39 wins, with $6,591,860 in earnings. He was twice voted the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year in 1981 and 1984, with his 1981 selection is the only one whereby the victor received all votes cast for that award. John Henry was also...

, who won the Brighton Beach in 1980 for his then-trainer, Lefty Nickerson

Victor J. Nickerson

Victor J. "Lefty" Nickerson was an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer. He embarked on a career as a professional trainer in 1953, working primarily at racetracks in the Northeastern United States...

.

The original Kelso Handicap was first run in 1980 as a two-mile dirt race, but was only run three times before being discontinued after 1982. Two years after the original Kelso Handicap was discontinued, the Brighton Beach Handicap was renamed the Kelso Handicap. The combined Kelso Handicap has been run at a total of three different distances:

• 2 miles : 1980-1982** (Original Kelso Handicap run on DIRT, separate stakes event from the current Kelso)
• 1¼ miles : 1984-1987 (on TURF, current Kelso Handicap after being renamed from the Brighton Beach Handicap)
• 1 mile : 1988-present (on TURF from 1988-2008, originally scheduled for turf in 2009, moved permanently to the main track in 2010).

• • - Earlier incarnation of the Kelso Handicap that was discontinued after 1982. The current Kelso Handicap was renamed from the Brighton Beach Handicap in 1984.

Records

Speed record: (at 1 mile on turf)

• 1:32.07 - Ashkal Way (2006)

Speed record: (at 1 mile on dirt)

• 1:33.82 - Uncle Mo (2011)

Most wins:

• 2 - Peat Moss (1980, 1981)** (At Two Miles on DIRT)
• 2 - I'm a Banker (1986, 1987)
• 2 - Forbidden Apple (2000, 2001)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 - Murray M. Garren (1980, 1981)**
• 2 - Albert Davis (1986, 1987)
• 2 - Arthur I. Appleton (2000, 2001)
• 2 - Godolphin Racing (2006, 2008)

Most wins by a jockey

Jockey

A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...

:

• 3 - Jean-Luc Samyn
  Jean-Luc Samyn
  Jean-Luc Samyn is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.The son of a pastry chef, Jean-Luc Samyn was one of three children. At age thirteen, he went to work for the stable of trainer John Cunnington at Chantilly, a racecourse about north of Paris city center...
  
   (1982**, 1990, 2000)
• 3 - Jose Santos (1991, 1994, 2001)

Most wins by a trainer

Horse trainer

In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...

:

• 2 - Gilbert Puentes (1980, 1981)**
• 2 - Gasper Moschera (1986, 1987)
• 2 - Robert Barbara (1996, 1998)
• 2 - Christophe Clement
  Christophe Clement
  Christophe Clement is a Thoroughbred horse trainer in the United States.- Racing background :Christophe Clement initially acquired his training skills from father Miguel, a leading trainer in France, Christophe later worked for the prominent French racing family of trainer Alec Head...
  
   (2000, 2001)
• 2 - Saeed bin Suroor
  Saeed bin Suroor
  Saeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation....
  
   (2006, 2008)

• • - Earlier incarnation of the Kelso unrelated to the current Kelso Stakes, which has only been run as such since 1984 and previously had been run as the Brighton Beach Handicap

Winners

• - Originally scheduled for Turf
  • -- Run on DIRT, with the 1980-'82 runnings a completely separate race from the current Kelso Stakes

+ -- First running of the Kelso after being renamed from the Brighton Beach Handicap, which the current Kelso Stakes was run as prior to 1984.

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2011**	Uncle Mo Uncle Mo Uncle Mo is an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse who went undefeated in his two-year-old season.In his first start, a maiden special weight on the Travers undercard at Saratoga, Uncle Mo led at every call, crushing the field of 2-yr olds by 14 1/4 lengths...	3	John Velazquez	Todd Pletcher Todd Pletcher Todd Pletcher is a leading American thoroughbred horse trainer. He has won four consecutive Eclipse Awards as outstanding Trainer of the Year, while topping the leader board in purse earnings in 2004, 2005, and 2006. His horse Super Saver won the 2010 Kentucky Derby, the first of his 24 horses...	Reople Stable	1:33.82
2010**	Tizway	5	Rajiv Maragh Rajiv Maragh Rajiv Maragh is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. An Indo-Jamaican, he is the son of a jockey who rode in Jamaica before relocating to Florida where he began a career as a horse trainer....	H. James Bond	William Clifton Jr.	1:34.42
2009*	Le Grand Cru	4	Jose Lezcano Jose Lezcano Jose Lezcano is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He rides in New York in the spring, summer and fall and spends the winter in Florida. His big break came in 2008 when he won a Breeders' Cup race....	Allen Jerkens	Judson Streicher	1:37.36
2008	Tam Lin	5	Javier Castellano Javier Castellano Javier Castellano is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.Castellano began his riding career in his native Venezuela in 1996 and in June 1997 moved to the United States where rode at race tracks in southern Florida until 2001 when he moved to race on the New York State racing circuit.In...	Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation....	Godolphin Racing	1:39.13
2007	Trippi's Storm	4	Javier Castellano Javier Castellano Javier Castellano is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.Castellano began his riding career in his native Venezuela in 1996 and in June 1997 moved to the United States where rode at race tracks in southern Florida until 2001 when he moved to race on the New York State racing circuit.In...	Stanley M. Hough Stanley M. Hough Stanley M. Hough Stanley M. Hough Stanley M. Hough (born February 20, 1948 in Palatine, Illinois is an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer. The son of Chicago-based Thoroughbred owner/trainer Joseph Hough, he embarked on a training career of his own in 1969....	E. Paul Robsham Stables	1:32.36
2006	Ashkal Way	5	Mike Luzzi Mike Luzzi Michael Jude Luzzi is an American jockey. He grew up near Delaware Park Racetrack where his grandfather, trainer Buddy Raines, had a major role in raising him and his brother John who also became a jockey...	Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation....	Godolphin Racing	1:32.07
2005	Funfair	6	Edgar Prado	H. Graham Motion H. Graham Motion H. Graham Motion is an American horse trainer, notable for his work with 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom and Better Talk Now. Motion started out training and winning with his own Thoroughbred horses at age 29, his first win was with Bounding Daisy in March 1993 at Laurel Park...	Cheveley Park Farm	1:32.95
2004	Mr O'Brien	5	Eibar Coa Eibar Coa Eibar Coa Monteverde is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. A five-time judo champion in his teens, he attended jockey school from 1989 to 1991 then began his professional riding career in 1992...	Robin L. Graham	Skeedattle Stable	1:32.69
2003	Freefourinternet	5	Jose Espinoza Jose L. Espinoza Jose L. Espinoza is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.-Year-end charts:Jose L. Espinoza is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing....	Joan Scott	Equirace.com LLC	1:34.73
2002	Green Fee	6	John Velazquez	Daniel Peitz	Robert & Lawana Low	1:33.83
2001	Forbidden Apple	6	Jose Santos	Christophe Clement Christophe Clement Christophe Clement is a Thoroughbred horse trainer in the United States.- Racing background :Christophe Clement initially acquired his training skills from father Miguel, a leading trainer in France, Christophe later worked for the prominent French racing family of trainer Alec Head...	Arthur I. Appleton	1:36.77
2000	Forbidden Apple	5	Jean-Luc Samyn Jean-Luc Samyn Jean-Luc Samyn is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.The son of a pastry chef, Jean-Luc Samyn was one of three children. At age thirteen, he went to work for the stable of trainer John Cunnington at Chantilly, a racecourse about north of Paris city center...	Christophe Clement Christophe Clement Christophe Clement is a Thoroughbred horse trainer in the United States.- Racing background :Christophe Clement initially acquired his training skills from father Miguel, a leading trainer in France, Christophe later worked for the prominent French racing family of trainer Alec Head...	Arthur I. Appleton	1:34.39
1999	Middlesex Drive	4	Shane Sellers Shane Sellers Shane Jude Sellers is an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. At age eleven, he began working around horses and in 1983 rode his first winner at Evangeline Downs....	Philip M. Hauswald	C. Steven Duncker	1:35.45
1998	Dixie Bayou	5	Jorge Chavez Jorge F. Chavez Jorge F. Chavez is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.Chavez began his career in horse racing in 1982 in his native Peru and by 1987 was his country's leading rider. In April 1988 he emigrated to the United States where he raced with a great deal of success at Florida race tracks...	Robert Barbara	Sabine Stable	1:36.21
1997	Lucky Coin	4	Robbie Davis Robbie Davis Robbie Glen Davis is a retired American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.-Early life:Davis grew up in a single parent household forced onto welfare, something that would impact him for the rest of his life....	Richard Nieminski	Edward I. Kelly, Sr. Edward I. Kelly, Sr. Edward Ignatius "Eddie" Kelly, Sr. was a Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.-Biography:Born in Baltimore, Maryland, he was the younger brother, by two years, of Thomas J. Kelly. In the mid 1930s, the brothers went to work for J.W.Y. Martin, a trainer and racehorse stable proprietor who owned Snow Hill...	1:33.72
1996	Same Old Wish	6	Shane Sellers Shane Sellers Shane Jude Sellers is an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. At age eleven, he began working around horses and in 1983 rode his first winner at Evangeline Downs....	Robert Barbara	Friendship Stable	1:34.42
1995	Mighty Forum	4	Eddie Delahoussaye Eddie Delahoussaye Edward J. Delahoussaye is a retired American Thoroughbred jockey from New Iberia, Louisiana.He began his career in 1968 and ten years later became the top American jockey with 384 wins...	Mark A. Hennig Mark A. Hennig Mark A. Hennig is an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer.Born into a horse racing family, his father, John Hennig, was also a trainer. After working with his father, Mark Hennig became an assistant to Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas before going out on his own in 1991.-References:*...	Team Valor Team Valor Team Valor Stable LLC is an American Thoroughbred horse racing stable based in Versailles, Kentucky. It was founded by Barry Irwin and Jeff Siegel who create partnerships with racing enthusiasts to race Thoroughbred horses at major racing venues, primarily in North America.In early July 2007,...	1:39.58
1994	Nijinsky's Gold	5	Jose Santos	Richard Violette, Jr.	Stanton P. Powell	1:34.18
1993	Lure Lure (horse) Lure is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred and owned by Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky, he is a son of the leading stallion Danzig, who in turn was sired by Hall of Famer and prominent sire Northern Dancer...	4	Mike E. Smith	C. R. McGaughey III	Claiborne Farm Claiborne Farm Claiborne Farm is a thoroughbred Horse breeding operation in near Paris, Kentucky. It was established in 1910, by Arthur B. Hancock, owner of Ellerslie Farm in Albemarle County, Virginia, and has been operated by members of his family ever since.-Owners:...	1:35.86
1992	Roman Envoy	4	Craig Perret Craig Perret Craig Perret is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He began riding horses at age five and by seven was riding quarter horses in match races...	James E. Picou	Fred W. Hooper Fred W. Hooper Fred William Hooper was an American Thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder. He was a member of The Jockey Club, an honorary director of the Breeders' Cup, and one of the founders of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and one of its first presidents.Born in Cleveland, Georgia, ...	1:36.39
1991	Star of Cozzene Star of Cozzene Star of Cozzene is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse who won on both dirt and turf.A descendant of Nearco through both his sire and his dam, he won the 1991 Kelso Handicap at New York's Belmont Park. In 1992 his owners, Clover Racing Stables, sent him to trainer Francois Boutin to race in...	3	Jose Santos	D. Wayne Lukas D. Wayne Lukas Darrell Wayne Lukas is a former educator who became one of the most successful horse trainers in American Thoroughbred horse racing history and a U.S...	Clover Racing Stable	1:33.37
1990	Expensive Decision	4	Jean-Luc Samyn Jean-Luc Samyn Jean-Luc Samyn is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.The son of a pastry chef, Jean-Luc Samyn was one of three children. At age thirteen, he went to work for the stable of trainer John Cunnington at Chantilly, a racecourse about north of Paris city center...	Stanley Shapoff	Edward Shapoff	1:32.40
1989	I Rejoice	6	Jerry Bailey	Edward I. Kelly, Sr. Edward I. Kelly, Sr. Edward Ignatius "Eddie" Kelly, Sr. was a Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.-Biography:Born in Baltimore, Maryland, he was the younger brother, by two years, of Thomas J. Kelly. In the mid 1930s, the brothers went to work for J.W.Y. Martin, a trainer and racehorse stable proprietor who owned Snow Hill...	Brookfield Farms Harry Z. Isaacs Harry Z. Isaacs was a Baltimore, Maryland businessman, a philanthropist, and a major owner and breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses who operated and resided at Brookfield Farm in Glyndon, Maryland...	1:36.40
1988	San's The Shadow	4	Chris Antley Chris Antley Christopher Wiley Antley was a champion American jockey.He was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida but grew up in Elloree, South Carolina. He left school at sixteen to ride horses professionally at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. His first win was on a horse named Vaya Con Dinero...	Timothy A. Hills	J. Scott Rutan	1:42.00
1987	I'm a Banker	5	Antonio Graell	Gasper S. Moschera	Albert Davis	2:10.80
1986	I'm a Banker	4	Antonio Graell	Gasper S. Moschera	Albert Davis	2:03.20
1985	Mourjane	5	Richard Migliore	Thomas J. Skiffington	Fernwood Stables	2:02.00
1984+	Who's For Dinner	5	Walter Guerra	Jan H. Nerud	Tartan Stable	2:01.20
1983	No race
1982**	Worthy Too	4	Jean-Luc Samyn Jean-Luc Samyn Jean-Luc Samyn is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.The son of a pastry chef, Jean-Luc Samyn was one of three children. At age thirteen, he went to work for the stable of trainer John Cunnington at Chantilly, a racecourse about north of Paris city center...	Michael J. Kelly	Adele L. Rand	3:24.40
1981**	Peat Moss	6	Frank Lovato, Jr. Frank Lovato, Jr. Frank Lovato, Jr. is a retired American Thoroughbred jockey.- Career :During a career that spanned 25 years Lovato rode a total of 15,603 mounts, winning on 1,686 of them and finishing in the money on another 3,506. The horses he rode earned a total of $41,795,267...	Gilbert Puentes	Murray M. Garren	3:20.80
1980**	Peat Moss	5	Frank Lovato, Jr. Frank Lovato, Jr. Frank Lovato, Jr. is a retired American Thoroughbred jockey.- Career :During a career that spanned 25 years Lovato rode a total of 15,603 mounts, winning on 1,686 of them and finishing in the money on another 3,506. The horses he rode earned a total of $41,795,267...	Gilbert Puentes	Murray M. Garren	3:24.60