Eclipse, the undefeated thoroughbred
Named after the solar eclipse of 1764, this thoroughbred remained undefeated throughout his career.
He was to sire Marske and dam Spiletta on April 1, 1764. Eclipse carried a very strong pedigree with him. His sire was a Jockey Gold plate Cup winner and on his dam’s side he has Godolphin Arabian as his ancestor. It is a commonly believed in United Kingdom
that "the blood of the Godolphin Arabian is in every stable in England."
Eclipse’s career started in the year 1969 when he was a five year old thoroughbred. Eclipse was considered a hot headed horse and a firm hand was required to hold the reins of this temperamental thoroughbred. Only John Oakley, a jockey in that era, was considered
firm enough to keep Eclipse’s passion and wildness in check.
The gifted thoroughbred won a total of eighteen races. In eleven of these races was was presented with the King’s Plate.
Eclipse’s first owner Captain Denise O’ Kelly used the phrase ‘Eclipse first and the rest nowhere’ to describe the thoroughbred’s unparalleled skill at racing. To date this phrase is used to describe an unmatched performance in any sport.
Seventeen months after his debut, Eclipse was forced to retired from thoroughbred racing because nobody wanted to put a wager on a thoroughbred competing against Eclipse in a race.
He was than remained at his owner’s Clay Hill Stud for some time and sired many foals there. Such was his popularity that the fees charged for breeding with a dam rapidly rose from ten guineas to fifty guineas.
Among the countless thoroughbreds that Eclipse sired 344 emerged victorious in various races winning prize money totaling to £158,000.
Eighty percent of thoroughbreds have their lineage associated with this great thoroughbred according to Royal Veterinary College.
Twenty four years after this birth, Eclipse passed away due to an attack of colic.
The Learning Resource Centre at the Royal Veterinary College is named after Eclipse, his skeleton remains there to this day for educational purposes.
As a tribute to his career with zero defeats the Eclipse Awards of thoroughbred racing have been named after him. The famous Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park in United Kingdom is also named after him.
Numerous Books have been written after him including a biography by Nicholas Clee. Michael Church published his biography in 2000 titled ‘Eclipse: The Horse, The Race, The Awards’
The thoroughbred with his illustrious records is a legend in the thoroughbred industry. Trainers and Owners both look up to his skills and stamina and want to train their thoroughbreds on the same lines as him. His name would remain in the annals of history
till the end of civilization.
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