Smyrna times., 1857-08-26
WHOLE NO. 533.

! The GREAT RACE Horse ECLIPsE.-Profes-
Sor Low, in his work on domestic animals, gives
the following description of one Of the most
I celebrated horses that ever liVed:-
/ Eclipse was got by Marsks, a grandson of
! Blrtlett'S Childers, oat of Spileta. He was
ioaled in the year l764, during the eclipse of
that year, from which circumstance he took
his name He was bred by the Duke of Cum
| beriand, and on the death Of that Prince sold
| to Mr.. WIldmaD, a SO lesman at Smithfeld, and
afterwards he became the property sof Biz.
! O'keIly. Eclipse had not the grandeur or
form of flying ChiIders and might have escaped
notice but for the accidental trial of stupenaous
powers. lie was about fifteen hands and one
inch high. His shoulders were very obique,
low, and so thick above, that accorFing 10 the
observation of the time firkin of butter might
have rested upon them. He stood very high
behind, conformation suitable to hls great
powers of progression. He was so thick win
ded as to be heard blowing at a considerable
distance. In the language of honest John
Lawrence. he putfed and blowed like an otter.
and gallopped wide as barn dOoE-'
No sooner were his powers exhibited on the
tart, than every eye was set to scrutinlze his
form, aud he was then admitted to possess in
perfection the external characteristics iDdica-
tive of great speed. A volume was written On
geon, whose investigation showed that his 6g-
nre differed greatly from the conventional form
which speculative writer's had assigned Os the
standa rd of perfection. He was of Rn indomi-
table temper, and his jockeys found it in vain to
attempt to hold hun, but contented themselves
with rCmR ming III the saddle while he swept
along, his nose almost touching the graund.-
Ills full speed was never determined, since he
never met with an opponent sufficiently fleet
to put Ii TO the proof. He not only was never
beaten, but he was uble to distance some Of the
best horse of his day; aud the heetest could
not keep by his side for fifty yards together.
THIS rema rkable horse first appeared on the
turf at the age of five in 1860. In the first
heat he set off of his own accord. and easily
gained the race, his rider pulling him in vain
wiki all his force tCr the last mile. O'Kelly
observing this, and aware Of his horses power,
offered, in the second heat, to "pace The hor-
ses" and he took heavy bets that he did s0.--
When called upon to declare, he said, {" Eclipse
was first and the others were distanced," or. in
the language OF The turf, had no place. From
this time Eclipse was continually on the turf
and gained every race. No horse daring TO
contend with hun, be closed his career Of sew
cnteen months by walking over the Newman
ket course for the Kings Plate, in October,
l710. During this brief period II is said that
he gained twenty five thousand pounds for his
owner He was then implOyed with prodi-
glOus profit stallion. He got three hum
di ed and thirly-f0nr winners at our numerous
race courses. who are computed TO have gained
about one hundred and sixty thousand pound TO
their owners, besides cups and plates. Eclipse
died III the year 1859 at the age of twenty
five. This famoHs horse was descendant
from the barley Arabian.