Horse racing
The Eclipse Stakes is a prestigious Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain, open to horses aged three years and older, run over a distance of 1 mile 1 furlong and 209 yards (2,010 metres) at Sandown Park in Esher, Surrey. Established in 1883, it is traditionally held in early July and is one of the most significant middle-distance races of the British summer season.
The Eclipse Stakes was first run in 1883, named after the 18th-century racehorse Eclipse, who was undefeated in 18 races and is considered one of the greatest racehorses of all time. The race was conceived by the owner of Sandown Park, Hwfa Williams, as a weight-for-age contest to attract the best horses in training. It quickly became a key trial for the season's major middle-distance prizes, including the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.1
Over the decades, the Eclipse has been won by many champions, including the legendary Brigadier Gerard (1972), the dual Derby winner Shergar (1981), and the outstanding filly Enable (2019). The race is often a clash between generations, with three-year-olds taking on older horses, and it has a reputation for producing dramatic finishes and upsets.2
The most successful horse in the race's history is the mare Time Charter, who won in 1982 and 1983, while the most successful jockey is Lester Piggott, who rode seven winners between 1965 and 1984. The leading trainer is Aidan O'Brien, who has saddled eight winners to date, including the 2024 victor City of Troy.
Notable winners also include the unbeaten Frankel (2012), who carried a 147-pound weight penalty and won by two lengths, and the filly Golden Horn (2015), who later won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The race has been won by three-year-olds 38 times, with the most recent being City of Troy in 2024, who defeated older rivals in a record time of 2:05.36.3
The Eclipse Stakes is run under weight-for-age conditions, meaning that horses carry weights determined by their age and sex, with older horses carrying more weight than younger ones. Fillies and mares receive a sex allowance. The race is held on Sandown's right-handed, undulating course, which features a stiff uphill finish, often testing stamina and tactical speed.
The race is traditionally run on the first Saturday of July, and it is the highlight of Sandown's summer meeting. It is also the first major Group 1 race of the British flat season to be open to both three-year-olds and older horses, making it a key indicator of form for the rest of the summer. The winner is often considered a leading contender for the 'middle-distance crown'.4
One of the race's quirks is that it was originally run over 1¼ miles, but the distance was shortened to its current 1 mile 1 furlong and 209 yards in 1902. The race was not run during the two World Wars, and in 1915 it was replaced by the 'New Eclipse Stakes' at Newmarket. The 2020 edition was run behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the winner, Enable, becoming the first horse to win the race three times.
Another little-known fact is that the trophy, a silver replica of Eclipse's skeleton, is one of the most valuable in British racing. The race has also been used as a trial for the Breeders' Cup, with several winners going on to success in the United States, such as Invasor (2006) and Raven's Pass (2008).5
The Eclipse Stakes is one of Britain's most historic and prestigious races, named after the great 18th-century racehorse Eclipse.
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