Eclipse Stakes
History
The event is named after Eclipse, a celebrated 18th-century racehorse. It was established in 1886, and the inaugural running was won by Bendigo. At that time, it was Britain's richest ever race. The prize fund of £10,000 was donated by Leopold de Rothschild at the request of General Owen Williams, a co-founder of Sandown Park.The Eclipse Stakes was contested by high-quality fields from its inception. It was won by Ayrshire, the previous year's Derby winner, in 1889. The first three finishers in 1903– Ard Patrick, Sceptre and Rock Sand — had won seven Classics between them.
The race has been sponsored by Coral since 1976, and it is now familiarly known as the "Coral-Eclipse". The most recent Classic winner to achieve victory was City of Troy, the Epsom Derby winner, in 2024.
Records
Most successful horse :
- Orme – 1892, 1893
- Buchan – 1919, 1920
- Polyphontes – 1924, 1925
- Mtoto – 1987, 1988
- Halling – 1995, 1996
- Lester Piggott – Mystery IX, Darius, Arctic Explorer, St Paddy, Pieces of Eight, Wolver Hollow, Artaius
- Aidan O'Brien - Giant's Causeway, Hawk Wing, Oratorio, Mount Nelson, So You Think, St Mark's Basilica, Paddington, City of Troy, Delacroix
- Sue Magnier – Giant's Causeway, Hawk Wing, Oratorio, Mount Nelson, So You Think, St Mark's Basilica, Paddington, City of Troy, Delacroix