The soft murmur of conversation drifted across Kelso’s single public enclosure long before the first horse stepped onto the parade ring, setting the tone for a quietly heartfelt Autumn Raceday. Trainers exchanged quick smiles, stable staff offered gentle pats, and one conditional jockey planted a grateful kiss on his mount’s neck before legging up for the opener. It was the kind of midweek meeting Kelso does best—steady, close-knit, and full of the small human moments that make jump racing feel personal.
Gates opened at 11:00am, drawing racegoers into the relaxed rhythm the course is known for. Five races, from 12:55pm to 3:25pm, shaped the afternoon—each contest unfolding with the calm, unhurried pacing that suits this corner of the Borders. As winter campaigns begin to take shape, Kelso offered trainers a useful platform and spectators a front-row seat to horses sharpening for the colder months ahead.
Race 1, the Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at 12:55, set the meeting in motion. Be The Difference travelled with his usual purpose, always well placed and always looking comfortable as the field rounded the far bend. Victory Club and Guernesey tried to keep the favourite honest, but Be The Difference—living up to his name—found enough when it mattered, sealing a determined and deserved success. It was the kind of honest, workmanlike opener Kelso regulars appreciate.
The 13:25 Novices’ Handicap Chase carried strong interest and drew a capable group of young chasers. Chasingouttheblues stamped his authority early, jumping fluently and stretching into a natural rhythm that suited him on the ground. The challengers never fully went away, but his consistency over fences told late on, giving him a clear and confident victory.
Newer hurdlers returned to centre stage in the 14:25 Novices’ Hurdle, where Triple Crown Ted produced one of the tidiest displays of the afternoon. Settled early, he moved through the race smoothly and picked up decisively after the last. A neat performance, and one that suggested there is progress still to come.
The 14:55 Handicap Chase brought both tension and quality. Classical Sting sat off the early pace set by Moon Phases and Treaty Boy, travelling patiently while the leaders softened each other. Turning for home, he swept past with a well-timed move, his jumping sharp and his finishing effort decisive. Moon Phases kept on for second, with Ballyfort following in third, but Classical Sting’s clarity of purpose at the business end made the difference.
The afternoon concluded with the 15:25 Class 4 Handicap Hurdle, a race that unfolded with a pleasing tactical shape. Joltin N Jiving and Kingston Narcissus were the first to commit, setting a fair gallop, but Magnolia travelled more quietly in behind before looming into contention approaching the last. Once asked, she quickened smartly and drew away, confirming her status as the strongest finisher in the field. Travis Wheatley and Dee’s Getaway were left to battle for the places behind her.
By the time the last runner pulled up, Kelso’s Autumn Raceday had settled comfortably into its own identity. Horses circled back through the Winners’ Enclosure, children pressed against the rails for a closer look, and conversations floated across the course as the light softened.
In the end, the meeting delivered exactly what it promised: a warm, well-paced slice of midweek jump racing—rooted in Kelso’s welcoming character and supported by a community that continues to cherish its local track.
Stay tuned to racebuzz for more.
