Eclipse (horse)
{{Short description|British Thoroughbred racehorse}}
{{For|the American thoroughbred racehorse|American Eclipse (horse)}}
{{Infobox racehorse
| horsename = Eclipse
| image = 250px
| caption = Eclipse (by George Stubbs)
| sire = Marske
| grandsire = Squirt
| dam = Spilletta
| damsire = Regulus
| sex = Stallion
| foaled = 1 April 1764
| country = Great Britain
| colour = Chestnut
| breeder = Duke of Cumberland
| owner = William Wildman
Dennis O'Kelly
Lewis Burwell
| trainer = Sullivan
| record = 18 starts, 18 wins (plus 7 heats)Ahnert, Rainer L. (editor in chief), "Thoroughbred Breeding of the World", Pozdun Publishing, Germany, 1970
| earnings= 2,149 guineas
| race = Winchester King's Plate (1769)
Salisbury King's Plate (1769)
Canterbury King's Plate (1769)
Lewes King's Plate (1769)
Lichfield King's Plate (1769)
Match race against Bucephalus (1770)
Newmarket First Spring King's Plate (1770)
Guilford King's Plate (1770)
Nottingham King's Plate (1770)
York King's Plate (1770)
6yo+ Great Subscription Purse (1770)
Lincoln Heath King's Plate (1770)
Newmarket October King's Plate (1770)
| awards =
| honours = Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park (GB)
Prix Eclipse at Maisons-Laffitte (France)
The Eclipse Awards (USA)
| updated = 29 October 2012
}}
Eclipse (1 April 1764 – 26 February 1789) was an undefeated 18th-century British Thoroughbred racehorse who won 18 races, including 11 King's Plates. He raced before the introduction of the British Classic Races, at a time when four-mile heat racing was the norm. He was considered the greatest racehorse of his time and the expression, "Eclipse first, the rest nowhere" entered the English vernacular as an expression of dominance.
After retiring from racing, he became a very successful sire, whose offspring included three Epsom Derby winners: Young Eclipse, Saltram and Serjeant. He was also a successful sire of sires, and his sire line has become dominant in the modern Thoroughbred worldwide through descendants such as Northern Dancer, Mr. Prospector and Sunday Silence.
Breeding
Eclipse was foaled during and named after the solar eclipse of {{nowrap|1 April}} 1764, at Keats Gore, near East Ilsley in Berkshire, not at the Cranbourne Lodge stud of his breeder, Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, as many believe.{{Cite book |last=S |first=L |title=Untravelled Berkshire |publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd. |year=1909 |location=London |pages=22-23}}[http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/Eclipse.htm Thoroughbred Bloodlines: Eclipse] Retrieved on 2011-08-21 This commonly recorded error is because of the prestige of Cranbourne Lodge. It was at Cranbourne that his sire, the Jockey Club Plate winner Marske (by Squirt from The Ruby Mare) stood. His dam, Spilletta (foaled 1749), was by Regulus, who was by the Godolphin Arabian. Eclipse's male-line great-grandsire was Bartlett's Childers, and his male-line great-great-grandsire was Darley Arabian. Eclipse was a brother to the successful broodmare Proserpine. They were inbred to Snake in the fourth generation {{nowrap|(4m x 4f)}} of their pedigree. After the death of Prince William in 1765, Eclipse was sold for 75 guineas to a sheep dealer from Smithfield, William Wildman.
Eclipse was a bright chestnut with a narrow blaze running down his face. He had a white stocking on his right hind leg. Eclipse was a big horse for his time, just over {{hands|16}}, and was an inch higher at the rump than at the withers. He was strong, sound and fast. He was sometimes criticized for having a large, unattractive head. His difficult temperament was well documented, and might have led to him being gelded.{{cite web|title=Eclipse|url=http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Eclipse.html|last=Peters|first=Anne|website=www.tbheritage.com|access-date=18 June 2016}} Instead he was turned over to a rough-rider, who worked him hard all day, and at night as well on poaching expeditions if the stories are to be believed. This treatment, rather than souring his disposition, settled Eclipse enough to allow him to be raced, although his jockeys never attempted to hold him.
Racing career
Before Eclipse's first start at the age of five, a trial was arranged at Epsom (although the location has also been given as Mickleham). Bookmakers, trying to verify whether rumours about the horse were true, showed up but were too late — the trial had already been run. On their way home, though, they encountered an old woman who told them she had seen a horse with a white leg being chased by another, who she did not think would catch the horse with the white leg, even if he pursued him to the end of the world. Accordingly, when Eclipse started in his first race on {{nowrap|May 3}} 1769, a £50 Plate for horses who had never won, he was 4/1 on favourite.{{cite book |title=The Daily Telegraph Chronicle of Horse Racing |editor-last=Barrett |editor-first=Norman |location=Enfield, Middlesex |publisher=Guinness Publishing |page=8 |year=1995 }} The race consisted of three heats of four miles each. Eclipse won easily.{{cite book|last1=Byles|first1=Tony|title=101 Interesting Facts on the History of Horse Racing|date=14 January 2015|publisher=Apex Publishing|edition=Kindle|url=https://smile.amazon.com/Interesting-Facts-History-Horse-Racing-ebook/dp/B00S9QJAD0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473398412&sr=8-1&keywords=101+interesting+facts+on+the+history+of+horse+racing#nav-subnav|access-date=7 June 2016}}
After his second victory in a race in May 1769, Dennis O'Kelly purchased Eclipse in two stages. {{nowrap|(50 percent}} in June 1769 for 650 guineas, 50 percent in April 1770 for 1,100 guineas).Montgomery, E.S, "The Thoroughbred", Arco, New York, 1973 {{ISBN|0-668-02824-6}}{{Cite web |title=Jackson's Oxford Journal 28 Apr 1770, page 1 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/jacksons-oxford-journal/170422659/|access-date=2023-01-01 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}} Supposedly, at this time O'Kelly used the famous phrase "Eclipse first and the rest nowhere", before making his bets for this race, although some sources have him saying this for the second heat of the horse's debut. At that time, a horse that was more than 240 yards behind the lead was said to be nowhere. His jockey was John Oakley, supposedly the only jockey who could handle Eclipse's temperamental manner and running style of holding his nose very close to the ground.{{r|Nimrod|p=2}} Eclipse won the race and covered O'Kelly's bet.
His toughest challenge was a match race versus the highly regarded Bucephalus in April 1770. Bucephalus was game, but Eclipse was the easy winner. In August, he took on top class horses Tortoise and Bellario in the Great Subscription Purse at York, but at odds of 20/1 on, routed both of them, being over a furlong in front after two miles, and winning in a canter.
Eclipse won 18 races, including 11 King's Plates, supposedly without ever being fully extended and proving far superior to all competition. During his racing career, Eclipse ran over {{nowrap|63 miles}} and walked 1,400 miles to race meetings across England.
Eclipse is still remembered in the phrase "Eclipse first and the rest nowhere", snowcloned as "[name of competitor] first and the rest nowhere", referring to any dominating victory. This phrase is occasionally seen in American print media (most often in newspaper sport sections) but is more common in Britain.
He is attested to have covered 83 feet per second at top speed, and covered 25 feet in a single stride.
Race record
| class = "wikitable sortable" | border="1" cellpadding="1" style=" text-align:centre; margin-left:1em; float:centre ;border-collapse: collapse; font-size:80%" |
| style="background:#dacaa4; text-align:center;"
! style="background:#dacaa4;"| Date ! style="background:#dacaa4;"| Race name ! style="background:#dacaa4;"| Distance ! style="background:#dacaa4;"| Course ! style="background:#dacaa4;"| Prize ! style="background:#dacaa4;"| Odds ! style="background:#dacaa4;"| Runners ! style="background:#dacaa4;"| Place ! style="background:#dacaa4;"| Runner-up |
| {{dts|format=dmy|1769|May|3}}
|£50 Race |4 mile heats | £50 | 1/4 |5 |1 |Gower |
| {{dts|format=dmy|1769|May|29}}
|£50 Plate |2 mile heats | £50 | 1/8 |2 |1 |Crême de Barbade |
| {{dts|format=dmy|1769|June|13}}
|King's Plate |4 mile heats |Winchester |100 gns | 5/4 |5 |1 |Turner's Slouch |
| {{dts|format=dmy|1769|June|15}}
|50 Guinea Plate | |Winchester |50 gns |N/A |1 |1 |Walkover |
| {{dts|format=dmy|1769|June|28}}
|King's Plate | |100 gns |N/A |1 |1 |Walkover |
| {{dts|format=dmy|1769|June|29}}
|City Silver Bowl |4 mile heats |30 gns | 1/10 |3 |1 |Sulphur |
| {{dts|format=dmy|1769|July|25}}
|King's Plate | |Canterbury |100 gns |N/A |1 |1 |Walkover |
| {{dts|format=dmy|1769|July|27}}
|King's Plate |4 miles |100 gns | 1/10 |2 |1 |Kingston |
| {{dts|format=dmy|1769|September|19}}
|King's Plate |3 miles |Lichfield | | 1/20 |2 |1 |Tardy |
| {{dts|format=dmy|1770|April|17}}
|Match race | | | 4/6 |2 |1 |
| {{dts|format=dmy|1770|April|18}}
|King's Plate |3.5 mile heats |400 gns | 1/10 |4 |1 |Diana |
| {{dts|format=dmy|1770|June|5}}
|King's Plate | | |N/A |1 |1 |Walkover |
| {{dts|format=dmy|1770|July|3}}
|King's Plate | | |N/A |1 |1 |Walkover |
| {{dts|format=dmy|1770|August|20}}
|King's Plate | |York | |N/A |1 |1 |Walkover |
| {{dts|format=dmy|1770|August|23}}
|Subscription Purse |4 |York |£319 | 1/20 |3 |1 |Tortoise |
| {{dts|format=dmy|1770|September|3}}
|King's Plate | |Lincoln Heath |100 gns |N/A |1 |1 |Walkover |
| {{dts|format=dmy|1770|October|3}}
|150 Guineas Race | |150 gns | 1/70 |2 |1 |Corsican |
| {{dts|format=dmy|1770|October|4}}
|King's Plate | | |N/A |1 |1 |Walkover |
In ten of the King's Plates, Eclipse carried 12 st, or 168 pounds, the highest weight (by one pound) that was carried by a winner in England up to 1840.{{cite book |last=Whyte |first=James Christie |title=History of the British turf, from the earliest period to the present day, Volume I |year=1840 |publisher=H. Colburn |location=London |ol=6544990M |page=130}}
Stud record
In 1771, Eclipse was retired to stud after a racing career of about 17 months due to lack of competition as nobody was betting on rival horses. Initially he stood at O'Kelly's Clay Hill Stud, near Epsom (Surrey), for a fee of 10 guineas which rose rapidly to 25 and then to 50 guineas a mare. During 1788, he was relocated to Cannons Stud, Edgware (Middlesex).
Overall, Eclipse sired 344 winners of more than £158,000Barrie, Douglas M., The Australian Bloodhorse, Angus & Robertson, Sydney, 1956 (although the number varies with different reports, ranging from 325 to 400).
=Notable progeny=
Eclipse's daughters include Horatia, one of only twelve mares to produce two Derby winners: Archduke and Paris. She also produced two-time Doncaster Cup winner Stamford. Other daughters of Eclipse produced Derby winners John Bull and Skyscraper, and St. Leger winners Tartar, Remembrancer and Phoenomenon. Chanticleer, Haphazard, and Weasel are also noted as important runners out of Eclipse mares.Morris, Simon; Tesio Power 2000 – Stallions of the World, Syntax Software
Eclipse was never the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland, although he finished in second place 11 times, usually behind Herod. A book published in 1970 stated that the Royal Veterinary College had determined that nearly 80% of Thoroughbred racehorses had Eclipse in their pedigree. That percentage has naturally increased with time and the inevitable inbreeding in the Thoroughbred population. More recently it has been estimated that Eclipse is not only somewhere in the pedigree, but a {{glossary link|glossary=Glossary of equestrian terms|tail-male}} ancestor of "95pc of contemporary thoroughbreds"{{Cite book
| last = Clee
| first = Nicholas
| author-link = Nicholas Clee
| title = Eclipse: The Story of the Rogue, the Madam and the Horse That Changed Racing
| publisher = Black Swan
| location = London
| year = 2010
| isbn = 978-0-552-77442-0 }} or of "nearly every living thoroughbred."
This modern dominance comes mainly through a sire line established by Potoooooooo, although King Fergus would also found another successful branch leading to Ribot.{{cite web|title=St. Simon Sire Line|url=http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Sirelines/StSimon.htm|website=www.bloodlines.net}} Potoooooooo's grandson Waxy would lead the sire list in 1811, and Waxy's grandson Birdcatcher in turn led the sire list in 1852 and 1856. Birdcatcher's grandson Stockwell outdid them both, becoming leading sire seven times. Stockwell's grandson Bend Or founded a line that led four generations later to Phalaris{{cite web|title=Phalaris Sire Line|url=http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Sirelines/Phalaris.htm|website=www.bloodlines.net|access-date=7 June 2016}} The Phalaris line has several branches, notably through Nearco and Native Dancer.
In Great Britain and Ireland, the Eclipse sire line includes modern leading sires such as Sadler's Wells, Danehill and Galileo. In North America, leading sires in his line include Bold Ruler (sire of Secretariat), Mr. Prospector (ancestor of American Pharoah), Danzig, Storm Cat, A.P. Indy, Giant's Causeway and Tapit. In Japan, Eclipse's sire line includes leading sires Sunday Silence, King Kamehameha and Deep Impact, while in Australia leading sires from his line include Redoute's Choice, Encosta De Lago and Fastnet Rock.
=Sire line tree=
* A sire line is the term given to the bloodlines and male descendants from a single stallion.
{{cot|Descendants of Eclipse (click to show)}}
{{tree list}}
{{div col|colwidth=20em|small=yes}}
- Eclipse{{Cite web|url=http://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/SireLineschts/SireLineDA.html|title=Darley Arabian Line|website=www.tbheritage.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Sirelines/DarleyArabian.htm|title=Thoroughbred Bloodlines Sire Lines Darley Arabian|website=www.bloodlines.net}}[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/SireLineschts/SireLineDAEclipse.html Darley Arabian Sire Line: Eclipse Branch][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Sirelines/Eclipse.htm Sire Line: Eclipse][https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Eclipse.html Portrait: Eclipse][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/Eclipse.htm Biography: Eclipse]
- Planet
- Potoooooooo[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/SireLineschts/SireLineDAPot8Os.html Darley Arabian Sire Line: Pot-8-Os Branch][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Sirelines/Pot8os.htm Sire Line: Pot-8-Os][https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Pot-8-Os.html Portrait: Pot-8-Os][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/Pot8os.htm Biography: Pot-8-Os]
- Coriander
- Alderman
- Asparagus[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresA.html#Asparagus Foundation Sire: Asparagus]
- Teddy the Grinder
- Waxy[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Waxy.html Portrait: Waxy][https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresW.html#Waxy Foundation Sire: Waxy][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/Waxy.htm Biography: Waxy]
- Shock
- Pavilion
- Sir Walter Raleigh
- Sasenagh
- Ipswich
- Waxy Pope[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Waxy.html#WaxyPope Portrait: Waxy Pope][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Studbook/EarlyW.htm Studbook: Early W]
- The Dandy
- Prendergast
- Starch
- Canteen
- Sligo
- Trumpeter
- Mount Eagle
- Skylark
- The Cardinal
- Crispin
- Whalebone[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/SireLineschts/SireLineDAPot8OsWB.html Darley Arabian Sire Line: Whalebone Branch][https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Whalebone.html Portrait: Whalebone][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/Whalebone.htm Biography: Whalebone]
- Waverley[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Whalebone.html#Waverley Portrait: Waverley][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/Whalebone.htm#Waverley Biography: Waverley]
- Longwaist
- Camel[https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Sirelines/Camel.htm Sire Line: Camel][https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Whalebone.html#Camel Portrait: Camel][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios2/Camel.htm Biography: Camel]
- Chateau Margaux
- Flexible
- Stumps
- Lap-Dog[https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Studbook/EarlyL.htm Studbook: Early L]
- Defence[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Whalebone.html#Defence Portrait: Defence]
- Sir Hercules[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/SirHercules.html Portrait: Sir Hercules][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/SirHercules.htm Biography: Sir Hercules]
- The Exquisite
- Cetus
- Spaniel
- The Sea
- Woful[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Waxy.html#Woful Portrait: Woful][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios2/Woful.htm Biography: Woful]
- Theodore[https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios2/Theodore.htm Biography: Theodore]
- Blucher[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Waxy.html#Blucher Portrait: Blucher][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios2/Bios-B/Blucher.htm Biography: Blucher]
- Quinola
- Whisker[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Whisker.html Portrait: Whisker][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios2/Whisker.htm Biography: Whisker]
- Abron
- Caccia Patti
- Mustachio
- Swiss
- Catterick
- Memnon[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Whisker.html#memnon Portrait: Memnon]
- Coulon
- Economist
- The Colonel
- Emancipation
- Lawrie Todd
- Whisker
- Milton
- Inferior
- Anti-Gallican
- Champion[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresC.html#Champion Foundation Sire: Champion][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios2/Bios-C/Champion.htm Biography: Champion]
- Tyrant[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresT.html#Tyrant Foundation Sire: Tyrant]
- Vespasian[https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Studbook/EarlyUV.htm Studbook: Early UV]
- Worthy
- Jupiter[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresJ.html#Jupiter Foundation Sire: Jupiter][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/Jupiter.htm Biography: Jupiter]
- Ganymede
- Thunderbolt
- Jupiter[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresJ.html#YJupiter Foundation Sire: Young Jupiter]
- Sir Walter
- Satellite[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresS.html#Satellite Foundastion Sire: Satellite][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/Satellite.htm Biography: Satellite]
- King Fergus[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/SireLineschts/SireLineDAKingFergus.html Darley Arabian Sire Line: King Fergus Branch][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Sirelines/KingFergus.htm Sire Line: King Fergus][https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/KingFergus.html Portrait: King Fergus][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/KingFergus.htm Biography: King Fergus]
- Honest Tom
- Overton[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresO.html#Overton Foundation Sire: Overton]
- Cockboat
- Cockfighter
- Gilliver[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433066590849&view=1up&seq=210&q1=Fitzwilliam+Stakes&start=1&size=10&page=search&num=160 1809 Fitzwilliam Stakes]
- Merryfield
- John O'Groat
- Rolla
- Alonzo
- Poor Jack
- Young Traveller
- Ormond[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/KingFergus.html#Ormond Portrait: Ormond]
- Beningbrough[https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Sirelines/Beningbrough.htm Sire Line: Beningbrough][https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Beningbrough.html Portrait: Beningbrough][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/Beningbrough.htm Biography: Beningbrough]
- Ashton
- Blue Devil
- Harefoot
- Orville[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Orville.html Portrait: Orville][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/Orville.htm Biography: Orville]
- Octavius[https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Studbook/EarlyNO.htm Studbook: Early NO]
- Muley[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Muley.html Portrait: Muley][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios2/Bios-M/Muley.htm Biography: Muley]
- Belville
- Dinmont
- Fulford
- Don Juan
- Ebor
- Fitz Orville
- Allegro
- Master Henry
- Andrew
- Richard
- Bizarre
- Emilius[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Emilius.html Portrait: Emilius][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios2/Bios-EF/Emilius.htm Biography: Emilius]
- Ganymede
- Vargas
- Pollio
- Delville
- Rygantino
- Thorn
- Bedalian
- Hylas
- Phlebotomist
- Scud[http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Studbook/EarlyS.htm Studbook: Early S]
- Sam
- Steel Trap
- Sailor
- Actaeon
- Trophonius
- Prince of Orange
- Brother to Overton
- Deserter
- Hambletonian[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Hambletonian.html Portrait: Hambletonian][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios2/Bios-H/Hambletonian.htm Biography: Hambletonian]
- Camillus
- Oiseau
- Magistrate
- Consul
- Whitelock[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Blacklock.html#Whitelock Portrait: Whitelock][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios2/Bios-H/Hambletonian.htm#Whitelock Biography: Whitelock]
- Blacklock[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Blacklock.html Portrait: Blacklock][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios2/Bios-B/Blacklock.htm Biography: Blacklock]
- Camerton[https://tbheritage.com/TurfHallmarks/racecharts/UK/GoodwoodCup.html Goodwood Cup]
- Bay Camerton
- Anticipation[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Hambletonian.html#Anticipation Portrait: Anticipation]
- Garswood
- Johnny[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresJ.html#Johnny Foundation Sire: Johnny]
- Master Jackey
- Warter[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresW.html#Warter Foundation Sire: Warter]
- Vertumnus[https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios2/Bios-UV/Vertumnus.htm Biography: Vertumnus]
- Baronet[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresB.html#Baronet Foundation Sire: Baronet][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios2/Baronet.htm Biography: Baronet]
- Baronet
- Boudrow
- Joe Andrews[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/SireLineschts/SireLineDAJoeAndrews.html Darley Arabian Sire Line: Joe Andrews Branch][https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresJ.html#JoeAndrews Foundation Sire: Joe Andrews][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/Eclipse.htm#JoeAndrews Biography: Joe Andrews]
- Dick Andrews[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Tramp.html#DickAndrews Portrait: Dick Andrews][https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresD.html#DAndrews Foundation Sire: Dick Andrews][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/Eclipse.htm#DickAndrews Biography: Dick Andrews]
- Cwrw
- Tramp[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Tramp.html Portrait: Tramp][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios2/Bios-T/Tramp.htm Biography: Tramp]
- Bay Burton
- Barefoot[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Tramp.html#Barefoot Portrait: Barefoot][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios2/Barefoot.htm Biography: Barefoot]
- Lottery[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Lottery.html Portrait: Lottery][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios2/Bios-L/Lottery.htm Biography: Lottery]
- Brother to Bay Burton
- Speculation
- Zinganee[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Tramp.html#zinganee Portrait: Zinganee][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios2/Zinganee.htm Biography: Zinganee]
- Tyke
- Donegani
- Little Red Rover
- Liverpool[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Liverpool.html Portrait: Liverpool][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios2/Bios-L/Liverpool.htm Biography: Liverpool]
- St Giles
- Dangerous
- Scroggins
- Cornborough
- Biddick
- Sir Richard
- Merrymaker
- Mercury[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresM.html#Mercury Foundation Sire: Mercury][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/Eclipse.htm#MERCURY Biography: Mercury]
- Precipitate[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresP.html#Precipitate Foundation Sire: Precipitate][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/Precipitate.htm Biography: Precipitate]
- Petworth
- Bobtail
- Bobadil
- Tag
- Hackney
- Langton
- Langtonian
- Sir Reginald
- Silver
- Gohanna[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Gohanna.html Portrait: Gohanna][https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresG.html Foundation Sire: Gohanna][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/Gohanna.htm Biography: Gohanna]
- Cardinal Beaufort
- Cerberus
- Captain Candid
- Golumpus[https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Studbook/EarlyG.htm Studbook: Early G]
- Beverley
- Catton[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Catton.html Portrait: Catton][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios2/Bios-C/Catton.htm Biography: Catton]
- Otterington
- Uncle Toby
- Savernake
- Aimwell
- Canopus[https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Studbook/EarlyC.htm Studbook: Early C]
- Scarecrow
- Centaur
- Hedley
- Idle Boy
- Frolic
- Prince Leopold
- Trafalgar
- Brighton
- Coriolanus
- Election[https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Gohanna.html#Election Portrait: Election][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Studbook/EarlyEF.htm Studbook: Early EF]
- Manfred
- Regent
- Gustavus
- Manzeppa
- Rufus
- Cestrian
- Scorpion
- Interloper
- The Dandy
- Punic
- Robin Adair
- Young Gohanna
- Legal Tender
- Wanderer
- Gaberlunzie
- Rasselas
- Wanderer
- Belleropheron
- Skim
- Hermes
- Young Eclipse[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresE.html#YEclipse Foundation Sire: Young Eclipse]
- Young Eclipse
- Dungannon[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresD.html#Dungannon Foundation Sire: Dungannon][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/Dungannon.htm Biography: Dungannon]
- Lurcher[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresL.html#Lurcher Foundation Sire: Lurcher]
- Chance
- Grimalkin
- Hambleton
- Bedford[https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Studbook/EarlyB.htm Studbook: Early B]
- Gallatin
- Young Dungannon
- Dungannon
- Boaster
- Saltram[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresS.html#Saltram Foundation Sire: Saltram][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/Saltram.htm Biography: Saltram]
- Whiskey[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresW.html#Whiskey Foundation Sire: Whiskey][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/Whiskey.htm Biography: Whiskey]
- Whirligig
- Orlando
- Young Whiskey
- Trafalgar
- Pioneer
- Juniper
- Patriot
- Marmion
- Jack Spigot
- Herold
- Royalist
- Whip
- Hickory
- Whip
- Oscar[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresO.html Foundation Sire: Oscar][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/Oscar.htm Biography: Oscar]
- Volunteer[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresV.html#Volunteer Foundation Sire: Volunteer][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/Volunteer.htm Biography: Volunteer]
- Stirling
- Spread Eagle[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresS.html#SpreadEagle Foundation Sire: Spread Eagle]
- American Eagle
- Paragon
- Volunteer Colt
- Magic
- Eagle[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresE.html#Eagle Foundation Sire: Eagle][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/Eagle.htm Biography: Eagle]
- Diomed Eagle
- Fop
- Serjeant
- Alexander[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresA.html#Alexander Foundation Sire: Alexander][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Studbook/EarlyA.htm Studbook: Early A]
- Tityrus
- Hephastion
- Meteor[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresM.html#Meteor Foundation Sire: Meteor][https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Studbook/EarlyM.htm Studbook: Early M]
- Copenhagen
- Don Quixote[https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Studbook/EarlyD.htm Studbook: Early D]
- Sancho
- Cato
- Banquo
- Cannon Ball
- Prime Minister[https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Studbook/EarlyP.htm Studbook: Early P]
- Cervantes
- Whitenose
- Pegasus[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/FoundationSires/FoundSiresP.html#Pegasus Foundation Sire: Pegasus]
- Expedition
- Sea Gull
- American Boy
- Peace-Maker
- Alonzo
- Hippomenes
{{div col end}}
{{tree list/end}}
{{cob}}
Death
File:Skeleton of Eclipse (a horse). Wellcome L0000443.jpg
Eclipse died due to an attack of colic on {{nowrap|27 February}} 1789, at the age {{nowrap|of 24}}. His skeleton is now housed at the Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, in the Learning Resource Centre named after him, although it cannot be said for certain whether all the bones displayed are really from Eclipse.{{Cite journal|last1=Bower|first1=M. A.|last2=Campana|first2=M. G.|last3=Nisbet|first3=R. E. R.|last4=Weller|first4=R.|last5=Whitten|first5=M.|last6=Edwards|first6=C. J.|last7=Stock|first7=F.|last8=Barrett|first8=E.|last9=O'connell|first9=T. C.|date=2012-10-01|title=Truth in the Bones: Resolving the Identity of the Founding Elite Thoroughbred Racehorses|journal=Archaeometry|volume=54|issue=5|pages=916–925|doi=10.1111/j.1475-4754.2012.00666.x|issn=1475-4754|url=http://researchonline.rvc.ac.uk/id/eprint/6465/ }} His hooves were made into inkstands, although the fact that there are at least five Eclipse-hoof inkstands casts some doubt on the authenticity of some. Hairs from his tail have also been used for decorations.[http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Eclipse.html TB Heritage: Eclipse] Retrieved on 2009-8-7
A necropsy on Eclipse by Charles Vial de Sainbel"The Works of Charles Vial de Sainbel." In: The monthly Review or Literary Journal Enlarged. ([https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno-plus?aid=mrl&datum=17960052&query=text:%22Eclipse+horse%22~25&ref=anno-search&seite=23 online]) found that he had an abnormally large heart, weighing {{convert|14|lbs}}. This trait has been referred to in the context of thoroughbreds as the "X Factor" Theory.{{cite web|title=The X-Factor: Heart of the Matter|url=http://horsesonly.com/crossroads/xfactor/heart-1.htm|access-date=3 May 2013|archive-date=21 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621213610/http://horsesonly.com/crossroads/xfactor/heart-1.htm|url-status=dead}} While the theory has yet to be proven, it has gained popularity due to the large hearts seen occasionally in his descendants, including Secretariat and Phar Lap.
Honors and analysis
The Eclipse Awards are American Thoroughbred horse-racing awards named after Eclipse. They honour the champions of the sport, and are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers Association, who select all finalists at the end of the year. The most prestigious of these Awards is the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year title.
The Eclipse Stakes is a Group 1 flat race in the United Kingdom for three-year-olds and older run over a distance of 1¼ miles and 7 yards (2,018 metres) at Sandown Park.
Eclipse Press is the book-publishing division of Blood-Horse Publications, an international publishing house for top Thoroughbred and general equine magazines, books, videos, CD-ROMs and annual references.
Sheffield-based Eclipse tools, now part of Spear & Jackson, took their name and their Eclipse first... slogan in 1909 from the horse.
The life story of Eclipse inspired the novel O'Kelly's Eclipse by screenwriter Arthur Weiss.
Nicholas Clee's Eclipse: The Story of the Rogue, the Madam and the Horse That Changed Racing is a biography of Eclipse and of the people connected to him, among them the gambler Dennis O'Kelly and the brothel madam Charlotte Hayes. Other biographies of Eclipse include Michael Church's Eclipse: The Horse, The Race, The Awards (2000), and Theodore Cook's 1907 book Eclipse and O'Kelly.{{r|church}}
Contrary to popular belief, the Mitsubishi Eclipse was named for the racehorse, and not for the natural phenomenon.{{cite web|title=MITSUBISHI Eclipse (1990–1994)|url=http://www.autoevolution.com/cars/mitsubishi-eclipse-1990.html#aeng_mitsubishi-eclipse-1990-18|website=autoevolution|access-date=18 June 2016}}
Pedigree
At the time of Eclipse's birth, stud records were maintained by the individual breeder with no central authority. Record-keeping was somewhat haphazard, compounded by spelling and transcription errors, and the fact that the names of mares were often not recorded. In 1791, James Weatherby and William Sydney Towers pieced together the General Stud Book, which is the source of the pedigree shown below. However, there are still several debated entries of interest to pedigree experts. Details of the issues can be found in Appendix 2 of Nicholas Clee's book on Eclipse. The most notable issues are summarized below.{{cite book|last1=Clee|first1=Nicholas|title=Eclipse.|date=2012|publisher=Overlook Press|location=New York|isbn=978-1-4683-0333-9|pages=298–307|chapter-url=https://smile.amazon.com/Eclipse-Nicholas-Clee/dp/1468303333/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1472613220&sr=8-1|chapter=Appendix 2}}
According to all official records, Eclipse's sire was Marske (written as 'Mask' in a 1764 entry in the Royal Stud Book). Marske was a moderately successful racehorse who had little early success in the breeding shed. His stud fee at the time of Eclipse's conception was only half a guinea, though it subsequently grew to 30 guineas. During Eclipse's lifetime, however, it was rumoured that his real sire was Shakespeare, who was a somewhat better racehorse than Marske and was said to resemble Eclipse more closely. According to a contemporary source, Eclipse's dam was covered in 1763 first by Shakespeare and later by Marske, and paternity was based on Eclipse's foaling date corresponding to the date of the second breeding session. Since both Marske and Shakespeare were great-grandsons of the Darley Arabian, Eclipse would still descend from that stallion.
Eclipse's dam was Spilletta, who is shown as a bay in the General Stud Book but recorded as a chestnut in the personal records of her second owner, the Duke of Ancaster. There is again confusion over her breeding: The General Stud Book shows her sire as the undefeated Regulus (by the Godolphin Arabian) but a 1754 racing calendar shows her sire as Sedbury (by the Byerley Turk). Spilletta's dam was Mother Western, whose paternity is subject to similar confusion between Scarborough Colt and Easby Snake. Spilletta raced only once, finishing last in a field of three. In her first eight years as a broodmare, Spilletta produced only one live foal. In 1760, she was bred to Markse for the first time with no issue. Three years later, they were mated again: Eclipse was the result.{{cite book|last1=Clee|first1=Nicholas|title=Eclipse.|url=https://archive.org/details/eclipsehorsethat0000clee|url-access=registration|date=2012|publisher=Overlook Press|location=New York|isbn=978-1-4683-0333-9|pages=[https://archive.org/details/eclipsehorsethat0000clee/page/48 48–9]}}
{{Pedigree|
name = Eclipse, chestnut stallion, 1764|
f = Marske (GB)
br. 1750|
ff = Squirt
ch. 1732|
fff = Bartlett's Childers
b. 1716|
ffff = Darley Arabian
b. c1700|
fffm = Betty Leedes|
ffm = Sister to Old Country Wench*|
ffmf = Snake*|
ffmm = Grey Wilkes|
fm = The Ruby Mare|
fmf = Blacklegs|
fmff = Hutton's Bay Turk|
fmfm = Coneyskins mare|
fmm = Bay Bolton mare|
fmmf = Bay Bolton|
fmmm = Fox Cub mare|
m = Spilletta (GB)
b. 1749|
mf = Regulus
ch. 1739|
mff = Godolphin Arabian
b. c.1724|
mfff = (unknown)|
mffm = (unknown)|
mfm = Grey Robinson|
mfmf = Bald Galloway|
mfmm = Sister to Old Country Wench*|
mm = Mother Western|
mmf = Easby Snake|
mmff = Snake*|
mmfm = Akaster Turk mare|
mmm = Old Montagu mare|
mmmf = Old Montagu|
mmmm = Hautboy mare (Family: 12)[http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/ListerTurk.htm#SistertoOldCountryWench Thoroughbred Bloodlines: Lister's Turk] Retrieved 2011-08-21|
}}
Note: b. = Bay, ch. = Chestnut, br. = Brown
See also
References
External links
- [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070611134032.htm Science News – Why Was The Racehorse Eclipse So Good?]
- [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4216914.stm BBC: DNA study of 'greatest racehorse']
- [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4815378.stm BBC: 'Averageness' key to great racehorses]
- [https://archive.today/20130126140042/http://www.infoequinos.com/2007/09/turf-eclipse-1764-gb-mayor-jefe-de-raza.html Mayor Jefe de Raza : Eclipse] {{in lang|es}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1764 racehorse births
Category:1789 racehorse deaths
Category:Racehorses trained in the Kingdom of Great Britain
Category:Racehorses bred in the Kingdom of Great Britain