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CELEBRATED HORSE ECLIPSE That celebrated race horse E-lipse, which died February 2S, 17S9, at the ripe age of 25 years, received his name on account of his being born during an eclipse of the sun, and it became curiously significant and appropriate when in mature life he was found to pass all contemporary horses as regarding speed. Eclipse was bred by the Duke of Cumberland, a brother of George III., and afterward became the property of Dennis OKelly, who on his death bequeathed the animal, along with all his brood mares and other horses, to his brother Philip. For many years Eclipse lived in retirement from the turf, but was in other ways a source of considerable revenue to his owner on account of the many visitors who came to see the renowned hero of the race track who was passing his last days at Clay Hill near Epsom. In those days it was not the custom to insure the lives of animals, and the fact that Eclipse was insured for an enormous sum only made his popularity the greater. When it became necessary to remove him he was so worn out that a carriage had to be especially constructed to carry him. The secret of his immense success was revealed by the autopsy, when it was discovered that his heart was of unusual size, as it weighed thirteen pounds.
