Bibliothèque mondiale du cheval

« Neither the ancient Hippodrome nor modern race-course can furnish perhaps so splendid an example of superior powers, as do the annals of the famous race-horse Eclipse, whose performances were of a description that rendered competition useless with the horses of his day; and such was his preeminence, that he at last was suffered quietly to receive his laurels by walking over the ground, where no rival appeared to dispute his matchless claim. The bones of this famous horse would form a valuable acquisition to any public school, or to the hall or hunting stables of any nobleman or gentleman desirous of making so curious an appendage to his establishment, as they must ever obtain from the celebrity of the animal a share of interest and curiosity. They may he securely referred to as an unexceptionable model on which to calculate speed in horses; and from them may also he seen, at any period, if there he an increase or falling off hereafter of bone in length or size, in our breeds of race-horses, which may he readily ascertained, and in what degree, by his remains. The peculiar make and exact tournure of his bones may also be known, which no pencil, however skilfully handled, could convey so accurate a knowledge of. The following is a brief record of the interesting circumstances which attended his life, and of the chief of his exploits on the turf. […] » Présentation de l’éditeur (1835)