ECLIPSE AND CHILDERS. 356 



yards, in seven minutes and a half, which Childers is also re- 

 ported to have done. To prove still farther, if it were needed, 

 the ntter absurdity of the mile in a minute, or eighty-two feet 

 and a half in a second, story, it only need be stated that twenty- 

 three feet is the full average stride of the best horses at speed, 

 and consequently, that to cover eighty-two and a half feet in a 

 second, the horse must gather and extend itself within a fraction 

 of four times, a physical impossibility, in a second. 



"After all the high-flown panegyrics," continues Cecil, 

 " concerning the racing exploits of this horse in publi c — the 

 only trials worthy of credence — they were confined to the win- 

 ning two matches, for the first of which at six years old, carry- 

 ing 8 stone 5 lbs. each — 119 lbs. — ^iie beat Speedwell, a gelding of 

 equivocal celebrity. The distance was four miles. Tor the 

 second, when seven years old, he beat Chanter, twelve years 

 old, six miles. He was engaged in three other matches, for 

 which he received forfeit." ISTo time, it is observable, is on rec- 

 ord as to his public running ; a circumstance, which, to say 

 the least, throws a doubt on that related to have been made on 

 his trials. 



Granting, however, that the timing of Childers' race over 

 the Beacon, 4:m. Ifg. 138 yds., or in other words four miles, 

 358 yards, is correctly stated at 7m. 30s., by deducting the ex- 

 cess of 358 yards, we find, by the simple rule of three, that he 

 would have done his four miles in 7m. 19s., or within a fraction 

 of the same time it took Lexington to run his four miles against 

 time, in public, and bets paid, which established the time. I 

 do not find the weight carried by Childers in this trial t.-) have 

 been recorded, but taking it to have been the same as that with 

 which he ran over the Round Course, viz., 8 stone 5 lbs. or 

 119 lbs., and his age to have been six years, the time is not in 

 excess of Lexington's race, even at Southern low weights. 



Firetail is said to have run a mile in 1772 in one minute and 

 four seconds, but there is no authentic record of races kept of 

 this date, and the fact may safely be denied, on the grounds 

 above shown, in regard to physical impossibility. 



Concerning Eclipse's real powers, no correct estimate can 

 possibly be formed, nor was formed at the time, since, though 

 he ran against all the best horses of his day, and always beat 



