THE STORY OF ECLIPSE 275 



in addition his owner is known to have stated 

 openly that he was paid for the horse's services 

 as a stallion upwards of ,£25,000. 



Referring again to the later descendants of 

 Eclipse, we find that in the year 1894 they won 

 between them over ,£421,400 in stakes, the 

 number of winners being 827, and the total 

 number of races won, 1469. Indeed there prob- 

 ably is not any other horse in the world, nor ever 

 has been, that has been the prime cause of so 

 much money changing hands. 



Perhaps what most attracted attention to 

 Eclipse in his racing days was the apparent ease 

 with which he won. His stride is said to have 

 been phenomenal. Did he, during the whole of 

 his career upon the Turf, ever fully extend himself? 

 The question has many times been discussed by 

 experts, and the consensus of opinion seems to 

 point to the conclusion that he never did. 



For even after making his greatest efforts he 

 did not seem to be distressed. The race-loving 

 public seemed almost to worship him at about the 

 period he reached his zenith, and in the end it was 

 to all intents impossible to back him. 



The interest the king was known to take in 

 Eclipse was very great, yet probably George III. 

 was at heart less interested in the sport of racing 

 than any of his predecessors had been. 



Thackeray insinuates this in his immortal satire 

 of " The Four Georges," and with truth it may 



