I was too young to know of Kelso when he was winning Horse of the Year five times in a row, but author Steve Haskin does a really good job of rectifying that privation. Haskin doesn't write down to his audience, but doesn't overwhelm either, acquainting the reader with the most important and interesting aspects of his subject matter.

Kelso was a thoroughbred of modest pedigree, who wasn't good looking, and at first had an attitude against anyone who wanted to ride him. His owner tried to sell him but had no takers, even though he'd won a couple minor races. And then, as a three-year-old, Kelso started showing his worth. He went on to break records, beat all comers, and almost make two million dollars in lifetime earnings, an unheard of amount in the early 1960s.

You don't have to like horse racing to appreciate this bio of an American racing legend. ( )