| Color: ch
Height: 16.2
(GB)
Bred by H.R.H. the Duke of Cumberland.
A legendary racehorse, Eclipse is an unbeaten winner of Kings One Hundred Guineas (32F/H) three times; Kings One Hundred Guineas (24F/H); Great Subscription (32F); One Hundred and Fifty Guineas; etc.
Eclipse was foaled in 1764, the year of the great eclipse of the sun. The exact place of birth is unknown, but probably at the Cranborne Lodge Stud of his breeder, Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland in Windsor Park, Berkshire.
Eclipse started racing at the age of 5 on May 3, 1769 in Epsom. Supposedly, at this time Captain Denis O`Kelly used the famous phrase: ``Eclipse first and the rest nowhere`` before making his bets for this race.
Eclipse won 18 races, never appearing the least bit stretched. Owners were reluctant to put their horses up against him and eight of his races were declared walkovers.
Eclipse retired to stud in 1771 and sired three Derby winners, but his ability to sire offspring that were well adapted to the new shorter races for two and three year olds ensured him a place in the racing history books. However, due to terrific competition from Herod and The Byerley Turk line, Eclipse was never actually declared champion sire.
After his death due to colic at age 24, Eclipse was dissected (by Professor to the Veterinary College of London, Monsieur Charles Vial de St Bel) to try to work out the secret of his success – it was decided that his huge heart pumped blood around the body more effectively, while his back legs gave plenty of leverage. Powerful lungs completed the winning combination. By the Professor`s measurements, Eclipse was determined to stand officially at 16.2 hands high.
His skeleton is still owned by the Royal Veterinary College and can be seen at the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket.
Amazingly, yet not surprisingly, every Triple Crown Champion in history, on every continent, is a descendant of the great Eclipse.
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H, THOROUGHBRED, 1764
