American Eclipse

American Eclipse
American Eclipse, by Edward Troye
Sire	Duroc
Grandsire	Diomed
Dam	Miller's Damsel
Damsire	Messenger
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	25 May 1814
Country	United States
Colour	Chestnut
Breeder	Nathaniel Coles
Owner	Cornelius W. Van Ranst Walter Livingstone
Trainer	No record exists, probably his owners
Record	8 starts, 8 wins
Earnings	$25,000
Honours
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inductee
Last updated on 23 January 2011

American Eclipse (1814–1847) was an undefeated American Thoroughbred racehorse, who raced when three to four mile heats were common.

American Eclipse was bred on Long Island, New York by General Nathaniel Coles. He was by Duroc (by the founding stallion Diomed), out of Miller's Damsel (known as the "Queen of the Northern Turf," by Messenger). Miller’s Damsel’s dam was a mare (foaled in 1792) by Pot8os, who was by the original Eclipse.

The horse was a chestnut stallion that stood 15 hands 1 inch high and was named after the great English champion Eclipse. The original Eclipse (1764 to 1789), about whom it was said: "Eclipse first—the rest nowhere," was so outstanding that may people named their horses Eclipse in the hope that they had another horse of his quality.

Coles didn't start American Eclipse until he was a three-year-old, and then he raced him sparingly. He had a few race starts at four and was victorious each time. He was, according to many who saw him, the greatest American racehorse of his day.

At five, he raced for Cornelius W. Van Ranst, who had purchased him from Coles for $3,000. At five, he maintained his form, but Van Ranst put him out to stud at six. At ages six and seven, he bred to a number of mares for a fee of $12.50. To assist the newly opened Union Course, Van Ranst put the horse back into training. In his next start, he defeated the good mare Lady Lightfoot (a winner of 31 races), by Sir Archy, in the first heat. He distanced her in the second heat when they were the only starters, since all others had withdrawn. In his next race, all other horses scratched after contesting American Eclipse in the first heat, except Sir Walter who lost.

At this point, a match race was organized between American Eclipse and James J. Harrison’s noted horse Sir Charles. Sir Charles, with 20 wins to his credit, injured himself in a workout, and Harrison was required to forfeit the match, which American Eclipse won. A second match was arranged only a single heat, and this time Sir Charles raced but broke down, leaving American Eclipse an easy winner.