180 THE HOKSE. 



new modelled the law respecting racing, and a society being 

 re-organized sj^ecially for the improvement of our breed oi 

 horses, Mr. Van Ranst was induced again to put Eclipse in 

 training for the four-mile heats to be run over the New Union 

 course, eight-miles from Brooklyn, and near the Jamaica Turn- 

 pike, in October of that year. 



From an opinion, long entertained by sportsmen, that cover- 

 ing renders a horse unfit for the race, the friends of Eclipse 

 questioned the policy of again running him ; but the event 

 proved that, so far as he was concerned, the opinion was un- 

 founded. 



The races commenced the 15th of October, 1821, when four 

 horses started for the purse of $500, to run the four-mile heats ; 

 viz. American Eclipse ; Mr. Sleeper's brown mare. Lady Liglit- 

 foot, by Sir Archy ; Mr. Schenck's horse. Flag of Truce, by 

 Sir Solomon ; and Mr. Schomp's horse, Heart of Oak. The two 

 last named horses were drawn after the first heat, and Lady 

 Lightfoot was distanced in the second, being nine years old — 

 she had run upwards of twenty races — some very severe ones ; 

 and was out of order. 



The bets at starting were two to one on the mare. The 

 mare led until the last quarter of the first heat, when Eclipse 

 passed her, coming in two lengths ahead. In the second heat 

 Eclipse passed her in running the third mile, and from that time 

 left her alone. The time was, first heat, eight minutes and 

 four seconds ; the second heat, eight minutes and two seconds, 

 and the course measured thirty feet over a mile. 



In the following week, Eclipse was exhibited at the annual 

 exhibition of the New York county Agricultural Society, and 

 received the society's first premium, $50, for the best stallion. 



In May, 1822, Eclipse won the purse of $700 for four-mile 

 heats at tlie Union course, beating Mr. Badger's five-year-old 

 horse. Sir Walter, by Hickory. A bet of considerable amount 

 was made by the owners of the two horses on the first heat, 

 which, with the second heat, was won by Eclipse. Time, first 

 heat, seven minutes and fifty-four seconds ; second heat, eight 

 minutes. 



In October, 1822, he again ran the four-mile heats at the 

 Union course, for the $1000 purse, which he won, beating a 



