564 THE HORSE. 



Duke of Doneaster's Antinous at Newmarket, with six to 

 four on Antinous, for 500 guineas a-side ; and in the follow- 

 ing year he beat the same horse, giving him 9 lb., over the 

 same course, for 1000 guineas a-side. The match excited 

 greater interest than any previous one in England. It was 

 won by Herod by half a neck, and more than L.100,000 

 depended upon the issue. The Duke died in 1765. The 

 year before his death, Eclipse was born in his stud, and 

 passed into the hands of Mr O'Kelly, who became the great- 

 est breeder of the time, chiefly from the blood of Eclipse. 

 This individual was born in Ireland, of very humble parent- 

 age. From the lowest degree of wretchedness he rose to 

 extraordinary wealth. He entered deeply into all kinds of 

 gambling, but, on the turf, displayed shrewdness, judgment, 

 and caution. He bred many fine horses, and acquired the 

 most valuable stud of breeding mares that any individual 

 had before or has since possessed. Contemporary as a 

 breeder, for a period of his life, with the Duke of Cumber- 

 land and O'Kelly, was the Earl of Grosvenor, whose stud 

 came to surpass, in extent and magnificence, any that had 

 preceded it. He had many horses of great reputation, and 

 gained immense sums on the turf, insufficient, however, to 

 cover the expenses of his breeding establishment. He died 

 in the year 1802, after fifty years' connexion with the turf, 

 his splendid stud passing into the hands of the late Marquis 

 of Westminster. The Marquis of Rockingham and Lord 

 Bolingbroke were likewise distinguished for their studs at 

 this period, as were the Dukes of Ancaster, Cleveland, King- 

 ston, Northumberland, and many more. The early part of the 

 reign of George III., indeed, was remarkably noted for the 

 great support given to the turf by persons of distinction. 

 The King himself gave a judicious encouragement to the 

 sport ; and, during the progress of his memorable reign, the 

 passion for horse-racing lost none of its force. On the con- 

 trary, it extended with the greater opulence of the country, 

 and studs and race-horses increased in number, and in the 



