ECLIPSE
—the name of the most famous horse (since Flying Childers) ever produced or trained in this or any other country. He was bred in Windsor Great Park by the Culloden (or Great) Duke of Cumberland, being foaled during the celebrated eclipse in the year 1764, from which his name was taken. He was got by Old Marske, dam (Spilletta) by Regulus; her dam (Mother Western) by Smith's son of Snake; grand-dam by Lord D'Arcy's Old Montague, &c. &c. Upon the decease of his Royal Highness, the stud were sold by auction at the Park Lodge; where Eclipse (then a yearling) was purchased by Mr. Wildman for 46 guineas, and afterwards sold to Colonel O'Kelly (his last and only possessor) for 1700 guineas. In 1769, when five years old, he won two 50's at Epsom; 50 at Ascot Heath; the King's 100 guineas, and 50, at Winchester; the 100 guineas, the bowl, and 30 guineas, at Salisbury; and the King's 100 guineas at Canterbury, Lewes, and Litchfield.
In 1770 he received forfeit 600 guineas, and won the King's 100 guineas at Newmarket; the King's 100 guineas at Guildford; the same at Nottingham; the same and 319 at York; the King's 100 guineas at Lincoln; 150 guineas, and the King's 100 guineas again at Newmarket, where orders having been privately given by his owner, "to go off at score, and run the whole four miles for speed," he double distanced his opponents, and was then taken out of training for want of a competitor. From this time he continued as a stallion at Epsom, in Surry, and afterwards at Cannons, the seat of Colonel O'Kelly, in Middlesex, where he died on the 27th of February, 1789, in the 26th year of his age; leaving a progeny of winners and stallions who are transmitting his blood to posterity in directions too numerous to be obliterated to the end of time.
He was sire of Firetail, Soldier, Corporal, Serjeant, Don Quixote, King Fergus, Nina, Charlemont, Competitor, Gunpowder, Hidalgo, King Hermon, Meteor, Pegasus, Scota, Serpent, Squeak, Stripling, Devi Sing, Eliza, Poor Soldier, Big Ben, Spitfire, Fair Barbara, Adonis, Mercury, Lily of the Valley, Volunteer, Bonnyface, Jupiter, Venus, Antiochus, Dungannon, Maria, Henley, Soujah ul Dowlah, Grimalkin, Dian, Thunderbolt, Lightning, Spinner, Horizon, Miss Hervey, Plutus, Pluto, and Comet; exclusive of a great number of winners, for the list and particulars of which, reference may be made to Weatherby's "Stud Book," and "Racing Calendar."