358 KINGSCLERE 



to have but two pairs. The distance from Goodwood to 

 Doncaster (about 250 miles) was divided into three 

 ?ections of about eighty miles per diem. At the end of 

 the second day, which was a Saturday, Elis and the 

 Drummer were taken out of the van and galloped on the 

 following morning on Lichfield racecourse ; and on the 

 Monday morning they proceeded on their way to Doncaster, 

 where they arrived in the evening (two days before the 

 St. Leger), to the undisguised amazement of thousands of 

 beholders. The journey of Elis from Goodwood to 

 Doncaster could not have cost less than from 80/. to 100/. 

 It was said at the time that the old-fashioned trainers 

 complained in no measured terms of this new mode of 

 conveyance for race-horses, and insisted that it was 

 unnatural, and certain to be injurious to the delicate 

 constitution and organisation of the trained thoroughbred. 

 This they very soon discovered to be an error, as it enabled 

 horses which were heavily engaged to run at many 

 meetings which they never could have reached on foot.' 



ECLIPSE 



Eclipse, a chestnut horse by Marske, bred in 1764 by 

 H.R.H. William Duke of Cumberland, was the second 

 produce of Spiietta (likewise dam of H.R.H. by Crab, 

 Proserpine by Marske, Garrick by Marske, and Briseis by 

 Chrysolite), who was bred in 1749 by the Duke of Cum- 

 berland. 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. Wiidman, ran for the 

 first time on May 3, 1769. The place at which he 

 made his debut was Epsom, and the race a 50/. plate, 

 for 5 yrs. old 8 st., 6 yrs. and aged 9 st. 3 lb., 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 the ready-witted Irishman made the 

 memorable wager, f 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, 



