BRITISH TURF. 521 



Oakley, going over the Beacon Course, at New- 

 market, by Sartorious the elder, in the collection 

 of Henry Biggs, Esq., of Stockton House, Wilts, 

 and in which, this horse appears to be going his 

 best pace with '* his head very low," his jockey 

 is sitting quite still in the saddle. 



EPITAPH ON ECLIPSE. 



Praise to departed worth ! illustrious steed. 



Not the fam'd Phernicus of Pindar's ode 

 O'er thee. Eclipse, possess'd transcendant speed, 



When by a keen Newmarket jockey rode. 



Tho' from the hoof of Pegasus arose. 



Inspiring Hippocrene, a fount divine ; 

 A richer stream superior merit shows. 



Thy matchless foot produced O'Kelly wine. 



True o'er the tomb in which this fav'rite lies. 

 No vaunting boast appears of lineage good ; 



Yet the turf register's bright page defies 

 The race of Herod to show better blood. 



Spiletta, dam of Eclipse, was a bay mare, foaled 

 in 1749, and bred by Sir Robert Eden, Bart. She 

 was got by Regulus out of Mother Western. 

 Spiletta, when in training, was the property of 

 H.R.H.. William Duke of Cumberland, but started 

 only once ; w^hich was at Newmarket, in April, 

 1754, for a £50 plate, for horses, etc., rising 

 five years old, 8st. 71b. each, the round course, 

 and was beat by Sir Charles Sedley's Royal, by 

 Regulus ; the Marquis of Harrington's Tantivy, 

 by Sedbury ; and Mr. Curson's Jason, by Stand- 

 ard. She was afterwards a brood mare in His 



