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I i ECLIPSE BORN ON APRIL 1 Founder of One of Three Great Thoroughbred Lines Foaled in 1764 During Suns Eclipse. Sunday, April 1 marked the 161th anniversary of the birth of Eclipse, foaled during the great eclipse of the sun in 1764, hence his name. He was bred by H. R. H. William Duke of Cumberland and purchased after his highness death by Mr. Wildman, who afterward sold him to Capt. Dennis OKelly. In 1769 OKelly paid ,250 for a half interest in the horse, and in April, 1770, paid ,500 for the other half. Eclipse was by Marske, son of Squirt, by Bartletts Childers ; his dam Spiletta, by Regulus, son of the Godolphin Arabian ; grand dam Mother Western, by Smiths Son of Snake, by Listers Snake. He made his debut at Epsom on May 3, 1769 and won 50. The race was four mile heats, for horses that had never won 50, five-year-olds to carry 112 pounds, six-year-olds 129 pounds. In this race he beat Gower, Chance, Trial and Plume. The horses were well bunched at the end of three miles, when Eclipse drew away and distanced them all under the hardest pull. OKelly had laid large bets that he placed the horses. When called upon to do so he replied : "Eclipse first, the others no place." Altogether he started fifteen times, never being beaten. He has eleven Kings Plates to his credit, in ten of which the weight was 168 pounds. His total winnings in money was ,190. In 1771 Eclipse was retired to the stud at a fee of 50, and there he served until his death at the age of twenty-five. Feb. 28, 1789. In 1781 and the three years following he was limited to fifty mares at 00. His progeny continued to distinguish themselves on the turf for twenty-three years and, besides various cups, won 90,235. Eclipses most distinguished progeny on the race course and in the stud include three Derby winners, Y. Eclipse, Saltram and Sergeant. Annette, winner of the Oaks, also Don Quixote, Hermes Harrnonia. Javelin, King Fergus, Madcap, Mercury, Meteor, Pegasus, Satellite, i Pot-8-o-s sire of Waxy and Coriander, Soldier, Zodiac and many other which brought him credit. Eclipse was high in his hips and short : in his forehand. His heart weighed, when 1 taken out. thirteen pounds. To such an extraordinary weight he was supposed to owe ■ his natural courage. At his interment ale ■ and cake were given, as at that of the Go-dolphin Arabian. Any student of the stud book or others 1 who have read and digested works on the ; thoroughbred horse must he convinced that, whether we go to the Eclipse, Herod or Matchem lines of blood, we have as good in 1 each and every clas as can be found in the • world. To these three strains of blood trace • all the horses of this day and all the best horses of the last century and the horses now so successful on the turf in America and i England combine these three strains of blood i to a greater or less extent on both the paternal and maternal sides.
