Eclipse

Eclipse tells the story of a legendary racehorse who dominated British horse racing in the 18th century. The book traces the path of this remarkable animal from his birth in 1764 through his racing career and stud career. The narrative follows Eclipse's colorful cast of owners and handlers, including a roguish meat salesman, a scheming Irish gambler, and various members of the British aristocracy. Their machinations and conflicts over Eclipse's fate reveal the complex world of Georgian-era horse racing and breeding. The book reconstructs the social and sporting landscape of 18th century Britain through detailed research into contemporary sources and documents. Historical figures from London's underworld mix with nobles and royalty against a backdrop of gambling dens, race courses, and grand country estates. This work transcends standard sports biography by examining themes of class mobility, the power of money versus hereditary privilege, and humanity's eternal quest to harness and profit from natural talent. Eclipse's story mirrors broader changes in British society during a pivotal historical period.

Most readers find Eclipse to be a thorough racing history that focuses more on the business and society aspects than the actual racing. Reviews note the balanced portrayal of owner Robert Sangster and his relationships with both Eclipse and trainer Vincent O'Brien. Readers liked: - Detail about horse breeding economics and practices - Integration of 1970s British social history - Clear explanations of racing industry terms - Profile of Vincent O'Brien's training methods Readers disliked: - Limited coverage of actual races - Some sections drag with financial details - Side stories that distract from main narrative Review Scores: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (42 ratings) Amazon UK: 4.2/5 (16 reviews) Amazon US: 3.8/5 (8 reviews) "More about money than racing" appears in multiple reviews. One reader noted: "The breeding shed drama overshadows the racetrack accomplishments." Several reviews mention the book serves better as a business history than a sports biography.

Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand The underdog story of a champion racehorse captures the same mix of equestrian drama and human determination that drives Eclipse's narrative.

The Byerley Turk by Jeremy James This chronicle traces the founding father of modern thoroughbreds through wars and races across Europe, mirroring Eclipse's impact on breeding history.

Northern Dancer by Kevin Chong The tale of a small Canadian horse who became a breeding dynasty parallels Eclipse's genetic influence on racing bloodlines.

Man o' War by Page Cooper, Roger Treat This biography of America's most celebrated racehorse presents the same detailed exploration of racing culture and breeding significance found in Eclipse's story.

The Horse God Built by Lawrence Scanlan The story of Secretariat and his groom Eddie Sweat examines the bonds between humans and exceptional racehorses that Eclipse also explores.

🐎 Eclipse was undefeated in his racing career, winning all 18 of his races in the 1760s, and went on to sire an estimated 345-400 foals, becoming the ancestor of nearly all modern thoroughbreds. 🏆 The phrase "Eclipse first, the rest nowhere" entered common usage after his races, where he would routinely finish so far ahead that his competitors were not even in sight. 💰 After retiring from racing, Eclipse earned his owner, Dennis O'Kelly, over £25,000 (equivalent to millions today) through stud fees - an astronomical sum for the 18th century. 🔬 After Eclipse's death in 1789, his skeleton was preserved and is still on display at the Royal Veterinary College in London, where scientists have studied it to understand his extraordinary speed. 📚 Author Nicholas Clee spent five years researching the book, combing through historical documents, racing records, and correspondence to piece together the story of this legendary horse and the colorful characters surrounding him.