AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 
103 
While a colt he was not confined, but during the win- 
ter season turned out every fair day. He was first shod in 
the spring, when three years old. 
In June, 1819, he won the Jockey Club’s purse of $500, 
running the four mile heats over the Bath course, beating 
Mr. Purdy’s Horse Little John, by the Virginia Poto- 
mac, Mr. Bond’s Horse Eclipse, by First Consul; and Mr. 
Potter’s Horse, James Fitz James, by Sir Archy. 
In October, 1819, he again ran the four mile heats at 
Bath, winning the purse of $500, beating Mr. Purdy’s 
Horse, Little John, Mr. Schenck’s Horse, Fearnought, and 
Mr. Bond’s Colt; the two latter being withdrawn the se- 
cond heat. The Bath course measured fifteen links over 
a mile: the first heat of this race was run in eight minutes 
and thirteen seconds, and the second in eight minutes and 
eight seconds. 
In the spring of 1820, Eclipse stood to mares on Long 
Island, at $12 50 the season. In the spring of 1821, he 
again covered as a common stallion, at $12 50 the season, 
and covered eighty-seven mares, nor was it contemplated 
to bring him again upon the Turf, — but the legislature 
of the state of New-York having new-modelled the law re- 
specting Racing, and a society being re-organized specially 
for the improvement of our breed of Horses, Mr. Van Ranst 
was induced again to put Eclipse in training for the four mile 
heats to be run overthe New Union course, eight miles from 
Brooklyn, and near the Jamaica turnpike, in Oct. of that year. 
From an opinion, long entertained by Sportsmen, that 
covering 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 opi- 
nion was unfounded. 
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 Lightfoot,’ 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 Light- 
foot’ 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, whe;i 
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 an- 
nual exhibition of the New-York County Agricultural So- 
ciety, 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 the Union course, beating Mr. Badger’s five 
year old Horse, Sir Walter, by Hickory. A bet of consi 
derable 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 second time, Mr. Badger’s Horse, Sir Walter; Mr. 
Sleeper’s bay mare, the Duchess of Marlborough, by Sir 
Archy, and Mr. Jackson’s mare, Slow and Easy, by Duroc. 
The first heat was run in seven minutes and fifty-eight 
seconds, wdien the two mares were withdrawn, and Sir 
Walter stopping short in the second heat, Eclipse came in 
at his leisure. A day or two previous to this race, a chal- 
lenge appeared in the New-York papers, by Mr. James J. 
Harrison, of Brunswick, (Va.) in which he offered to ‘run 
Sir Charles against the American Eclipse, over the Wash- 
ington course, four mile heats, agreeably. to the rules of 
the course, for five or ten thousand dollars.’ This chal- 
lenge was promptly accepted by Mr. Van Ranst, who, as 
two sums were named by Mr. Harrison, chose the great- 
est, that the object of the contest might correspond with 
the fame of the Horses. 
The forfeit money, $5000 each, having been deposited, 
the time for running was fixed for the 20th of November. 
At the hour of starting, both Horses were brought out, and 
the riders mounted; but instead of running agreeably to 
the challenge, Mr. Harrison gave notice that as his Horse 
had met with an accident, he would pay the forfeit. He 
at the same time proposed to run a single four mile heat, 
for $1500 each, which being instantly agreed to, both 
Horses started, Eclipse taking the lead. On the last round, 
Sir Charles broke down. The two first rounds were inn 
in one minute and fifty-five seconds each, and the heat in 
eight minutes and four seconds. In this race, Sir Charles 
carried 120 lbs.; Eclipse 126 lbs. 
In the evening of the same day, William R. Johnson, 
Esq. of Petersburg, Va. offered to produce a Horse on the 
last Tuesday in May, 1823, to run the four mile heats 
against Eclipse, over the Union course, on Long Island, 
agreeably to the rules of that course, for $20,000 a side, 
$3000 forfeit. 
This challenge was immediately accepted by Mr. John 
C. Stephens; in consequence of which Col. Johnson, on 
the day mentioned, appeared on the race with a four year 
old chesnutcolt called Henry, (John Richards, intended for 
