400 APPENDIX. 



ECLIPSE. 



(WINNER OF ELEVEN KINGS PLATES AND MANY 

 OTHER RACES.} 



ECLIPSE, a chestnut horse by Marske, bred in 1764 by H.R.H. William, 

 Duke of Cumberland, was the second produce of Spilletta (likewise dam of 

 H.R.H. by Crab, Proserpine by Marske, Garrick by Marske, and Briseis by 

 Chrysolite), who was bred in 1749 by Sir Robert Eden. Eclipse, who took his 

 name from being foaled during the great eclipse that took place in the year he 

 was born, having been purchased by Mr. Wildman, ran for the first time on 

 May 3, 1769. The place at which he made his dtbut was Epsom, and the 

 race a 5o/. Plate, for 5 yrs. old, 8 st. , 6 yrs. and aged 9 st. 3 Ibs. , which he 

 won, beating Gower by Sweepstakes 5 yrs. , Chance by Y. Cade 6 yrs. , Trial by 

 Blank 5 yrs. , and Plume by Feather 5 yrs. Although not then his owner, the 

 celebrated Captain Denis O'Kelly. the heaviest and most sporting bettor of the 

 day, won a very large sum of money by his success ; and it was in the running of 

 the second heat of this race that the ready-witted Irishman made the memorable 

 wager, 'that he'd place the whole lot,' which he did by naming ' Eclipse first 

 the rest nowhere,' a feat very readily performed by this wonderful horse, who, 

 pulling his jockey, John Oakley, out of the saddle, distanced the whole party. 

 Eclipse subsequently that year won the King's Plates at Winchester, Salisbury, 

 Canterbury, Lewes, and Lichfield, besides a so/. Plate at Ascot, another at Win- 

 chester, and the City Bowl at Salisbury. Previous to his running at Winchester 

 Mr. Wildman sold a half share of Eclipse to Captain O'Kelly for 650 guineas, 

 who afterwards bought the other half for i, 100 guineas, thus effecting one of the 

 cheapest purchases ever made. In 1770 Eclipse continued his winning career, 

 which he commenced by beating Bucephalus 8 st. 7 lb. each over the Beacon 

 Course at Newmarket, 600 guineas to 400 guineas being staked upon him. He 

 then won the King's Plate on the Round Course in two heats, beating Pen- 

 sioner, Diana, and Chigger. As much as 10 to i was betted on him ; and after 

 the first heat 6 and 7 to 4 was wagered in large sums that he distanced Pen- 

 sioner, which he did very easily. Subsequently he won the King's Plates at 

 Guildford, Nottingham, York, Lincoln and another at Newmarket, besides the 

 Great Subscription Stakes at York, for which he paid 50 guineas entrance ; and 

 another at Newmarket, for which he paid 100 guineas entrance. Eclipse, who 

 was never beaten, was then withdrawn from the turf, and was next year put to 

 the stud at Clay Hill, near Epsom, where his fee was 50 guineas. His progeny 

 continued to distinguish themselves on the turf for twenty-three years, and, 

 besides various Cups, won 158, 047/. Eclipse's most distinguished progeny on 

 the racecourse and at the stud include Alexander, Boudrow, Don Quixote, 

 Dungannon, Everlasting, Frenzy, Harmonia, Hermes, Horatia, Javelin, Joe 

 Andrews, Jupiter, King Fergus, Laura, Luna, Madcap, Maria, Mercury, 

 Meteor, Miss Hervey, PotSos, Queen Mab, Saltram, Soldier, Sister to Soldier, 

 Spitfire, Ticklepitcher, Volunteer, Xantippe, Zara, and Zodiac ; and Eclipse 

 got besides, the dams of Bobtail, Chanticleer (sire of Bob Booty), Haphazard, 

 John Bull, Master Bagot, Oberon, Phenomenon, Scotilla, Skyscraper, Stam- 

 ford, &c. 



