168 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



in the year 1764, and when one year old was sold at auction for 

 8375. lie was fifteen hands and a quarter in lieight at the withers 

 and considerably higher at the hips. His shoulders were oblique, 

 but so thick at the top that it was said a firkin of butter would 

 stand on them. Lie was so thick-winded that his roaring, at 

 fnll speed, could be heard a great distance. One writer says, 

 '' he puffed and bio wed like an otter, and galloped as wide as a 

 barn-door." Another informs us that he run with head down, 

 quite regardless of his rider, wlio could never hold and scarcely 

 steer him, and that he spread his hind legs so wide at full speed 

 that a wheelbarrow might have been trundled between them. 

 His power was enormous, so that he could carry two hundred 

 and twenty-four pounds with ease, and he usually carried one 

 hundred and sixty-eight pounds in his races. No horse could 

 ever pass him and the fleetest of his time could not keep by his 

 side for a space of ten rods. He never felt the whip or spur 

 upon any occasion, and in seventeen months won all the prin- 

 cipal races in England, earning for his owner the handsome 

 sum of $125,000. When in training for his first race, some 

 persons endeavored to watch one of his trials. A reporter says, 

 " they were a little too late ; but they found an old woman who 

 gave them all the information they wanted. When asked 

 whether she had seen a race, she replied she could not tell 

 whether it was a race or not, but that she had just seen a horse, 

 with a white leg, running away at a monstrous rate, and another 

 a great way Ijehind, trying to run after him ; but she was sure 

 he would never catch the white-legged horse, if he ran to the 

 world's end." 



Having vanqviislied all his competitors, Eclipse was with- 

 drawn from the turf and employed for breeding, and earned as 

 a stallion not less than $250,000. When he was fifteen years 

 old, his owner being asked to set a price on him, demanded 

 fil25,000, cash, an annuity of $2,500, and the privilege of having 

 six mares served annually by tiie horse. Eclipse died in 1789, 

 aged twenty-five years, having earned for his fortunate owner 

 the immense sum of 8o75,000. So great was the reputation of 

 this horse tliat his sire, Marske, after having been esteemed 

 almost worthless, and covered mares for $2.50, was purchased 

 for $5,000 and kept as a stock horse at the highest price proba- 



