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

  • Clark, Bracy, 1771-1860
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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    trouble and time of the company it was finally agreed that such lots as he required should be put up again ; and Eclipse was once more put up, and a second time knocked down, at the sum of seventy-five guineas, being an advance of five on his former sale. This remarkable horse was also not without portentous events on the day of his birth, for he was foaled on the very day of the great eclipse of the sun, on the 1st of April, 1764, and hence he very naturally acquired his name, which from this accidental circumstance is now become in our language almost synonymous to swiftness and speed ; as coaches, ships, steam- boats, and all other sorts of vehicles having any distinguishing pretensions to velocity, are all now called Eclipses, arising out of this casual circumstance. After the period of his sale, he was kept chiefly in the neighbourhood of Epsom; and, from some cause or other not now exactly known, was not brought into public notice till he had attained his fifth year, which, no ques- tion, was attended with many advantages to his general strength and the state of his feet; and, for the first time, he was started on the sweet scented turf of Epsom Downs, on May 3, 1769 : he was matched against some reputed clever horses; Gower, Chance, Trial, and Plume, were his opponents ; and he distanced them every one, winning for his owner a con- siderable sum of money. John Oakley, they say, had the honor of riding him on this oc- casion, and in general or perhaps always after- wards,* and to whom it is said this generous animal was much attached; but, although this jockey was deemed a skilful and powerful man, yet this brave animal did not require, they tell us, much of the aids of jockeyship, or would permit in any way the use of the whip or spur, * It is stated that he was broken in by a daring character of the name of George Elton or Ellers, who was afterwards trans- ported for poaching, a nd that he often rode him into the thickest of the forest, to overcome his intractable impetuosity, having previously defended his thighs and legs with stout leathers. or much directing; the sole business of the rider was to keep his seat, and pull in, the rest was done by the horse. In a race that was ex- pected to be sharply contested at York, O’Kelly placed several persons across the line of the course, beyond the coming-in post, in order that, if he broke away after winning, he might be stopt; but it was a needless precaution, for, after the race was won, he seemed to under- stand it, and readily obeyed the rein. On this occasion at Epsom, they say, “ he was pulled the whole of the last mile with all the might of his rider, yet he distanced the whole, notwithstanding; since, for certain ob- vious political reasons, it was not desirable to his owner his prodigious powers should be at once disclosed. It was after this race that Capt. O’Kelly purchased the half of him of Wildman for the sum of 450 guineas; and after a subsequent race at Winchester, he purchased the remain- ing half for 1100 guineas; yet, for all this, was he the cheapest horse ever sold in England, having by his valuable properties of one kind or other netted for his master the prodigious sum, it is said, of £30,000. Among other bets on this race, one was made which Avas rather singular, by Dennis O’Kelly himself, “ that he would undertake to place the horses: ” after the bet was made, he was called upon to declare, and he said, “ Eclipse first, the rest no where ; ” which was true, in a sporting sense, for a horse distanced might be said to be no Avhere, or in no place* * His being backed four to one at starting in this race, for his superiority, though endeavored to be concealed, had got abroad among the turf people, and the manner this happened has been related as follows. Some persons engaged in the fancy were dispatched from London for the purpose of taking a sly peep at a private trial that was to be made between Eclipse and some other horses before his starting for the race; but they ar- rived too late, for it wasjust over; but an old woman, as it hap- pened, was found near the spot toddling along, and of her they enquired if she had seen any thing of the trial: she told them, I she did not much understand what they meant; but, if it was the two horses they were talking about that were running, she could tell them that white legs was a long way first, and that t’other, she was sure, run as fast as he could, would never over- take him. This was sufficient; they returned to town, and the