A short history of the celebrated race-horse 'Eclipse' / [Anon].

  • Bracy Clark
Date:
1835]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A short history of the celebrated race-horse 'Eclipse' / [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    His next race was on Ascot Heath, on May the 29th, of the same year, 1769, were he beat Fettyplace’s Creme de Barbade. The betting here was eight to one on Eclipse, and, though only five, he carried away the king’s plate for the six years old horses. At Guildford, June 5th, of this or the next year, he walked over for the king’s plate. His next contest Avas at Winchester, on June 13th following, of the particulars of Avhich nothing more is known than his beating Tur- ner’s Slouch, who had won the king’s plate at Guildford just before: ten to one was betted on Eclipse after the first heat. He carried away also the £50. purse, heating the Duke of Graf- ton’s Chigger, Gott’s Julia, O’Kelly’s Calliban, and Bailey’s Clanmlle. On the 15th he walk- ed over the course at the same place, for £50. weight for age. At Salisbury, June, 28th, no horse meeting him, he walked over the course for the king’s plate for six years old, carrying twelve stone ; and the next day he won the city silver bowl, Avith thirty guineas added, for any horse car- rying ten stone, heating Fettyplace’s Sulphur, and Taylor’s Forrester, distancing the first. At Nottingham, July 3, he Avalked over for the king’s plate. At Canterbury, July 25, he Avalked over for the king’s plate for six years old, twelve stone. At Lewes, July 27th, he Avon the king’s plate for six years old, heating Strode’s King- ston : ten to one on Eclipse* * At Litchfield, September 19, he won the king’s plate for five years old, heating Freeth’s Tardy by Matchless : tAventy to one on Eclipse. At NeAvmarket first Spring meeting, (Tues- day, April 17th, 1770,) Eclipse beat Bucepha- owner was surprised, ou his arrival, to find the betting so high in his favor; he however took the odds, and won much money. * The writer of this is however credibly informed by some old people, who were eye-witnesses of this race, that he was on this occasion certainly ridden by one John Whiting; that Oakley appears to have oeen his constant groom, but whether he gene- rally rode him, as Lawrence asserts, is not certain. lus, got by Regulus, of his own lineage on the dam side; this was run for on the Beacon Course. Wildman staked 600 to 400 guineas on this race, six to four on Eclipse. On Thursday, April 19th, he won the king’s plate for tAvelve stone, heating Strode’s Pen- sioner, Fenwick’s Diana, and the Duke of Grafton’s Chigger, Pensioner being distanced at starting : ten to one on Eclipse. At the close of this year no horse would start against him, and he received the forfeit of 600 guineas at Newmarket, the king’s 100 guineas at Guildford; the king’s 100 guineas at Notting- ham, and £317. 10s. beside. At York races in this year, 1770, August 20, two horses were brought against him, Went- worth’s Tortoise and Bellario, bred by the noted Sir Charles Bunbury. Eclipse was more than a distance at the end of two miles, and won the race Avith the utmost ease, twenty to one on Eclipse. At Lincoln, Sept. 3, he carried away 150 guineas, and again at NeAvmarket, Oct. 3, 150 guineas, beating Sir C. Bunbury’s Corsican ; and the next day he walked over the round course for the king’s plate. Turf Reg. p. 15. He Avas then put out of training, and cover- ed mares at Clay Hill, near Epsom, at 50 guineas each, afterwards at 25, till near his death. They relate also an anecdote of this jockey, John Oakley, and of his horse, which we ought not to omit. It was several years afterwards, and that he had done racing, being very decre- pid and foundered in his feet, from the joint effects of shoeing and of racing. It being re- quired that he should be conveyed from Epsom to Canons, in Hertfordshire, the seat of his master O’Kelly, a four-wheeled car Avas made on purpose for him. In this car rode John also, and baited with him at the stopping places on the road; so that, in the words of the poet, he had almost become “ derni-natured with the brave beast.'
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