Eclipse Race Course

The Eclipse Race Course was the third formal thoroughbred horse racing track in New Orleans, Louisiana, founded in 1837 by Captain Yelverton Oliver, who owned the famous thoroughbred Richard of York; a native Virginian, who organized The New Orleans Jockey Club.

History
The first race course in New Orleans as laid out in 1820 by Francois Livaudais on his Live Oak Plantation, near the intersection of St. Charles and Washington Avenues. Then followed the Jackson Course in 1825, established a few miles below the city. The New Orleans Jockey Club announced its Spring Race Schedule at the Eclipse Race Course on January 17 in the Mississippi Free Trader Newspaper, then in New Orleans on Jan 31, 1837 in the Times Picayune Newspaper. The proprietor was Virginia emigrant Captain Yelverton Oliver who would later go on to purchase Oakland Race Course in Louisville, Kentucky.

1837
The Spring Meeting of The New Orleans Jockey Club began Tuesday, March 14. The First Day consisted of the Jockey Club Purse of $500, One Mile Heats, Entrance Fee $50. The Second Day, Jockey Club Purse of $700, Two Mile Heats, $70 Entrance Fee. The Third Day, Jockey Club Purse of $1,000, Three Mile Heats, Entrance Fee $100. The Fourth Day, The Louisiana Jockey Club Purse of $2,000, Four Mile Heats, Entrance Fee $150. The Fifth Day, Mile Heats, best three in five for the entrance money of the preceding days, $1,200, Entrance Fee 10%, free for any horse. The Sixth Day, The New Orleans Plate, consisting of Silver Tea Service valued at $1,000.

1838
The Fall meeting of the New Orleans Jockey Club began Tuesday, Dec 4th, with the Jockey Club Purse, $1,500. three mile heats. Results: Henry A. Tayloe's Zelina, 5 y.o. by Leviathan beat Thomas W. Chinn's Brown Elk. On the Second Day of racing, Friday, Dec 7th, Jockey Club Purse $1,200, two-mile heats. Results: W. J. Minor's Britannia, beat Minor Kenner's The Jewess, a descendant of Sir Archy, and Sosthene Allain's Wren by Leviathan. Day Three, Saturday, Dec 8th, Jockey Club Purse, $2,500, four-mile heats. Results: J. S. Garrison's, proprietor, Wagner, defeats A.L. Bingaman's Sarah Bladen by Leviathan. The Fourth Day, Sunday, Dec 9th, Jockey Club Purse, $1,000, two-mile heats. Results: Henry A. Tayloe's Zelina beats Thomas J. Wells' Linnet by Leviathan, W.J. Minor's (John Ruth's) Marchesa and Minor Kenner's Richard of York. On the Fifth Day, Monday, Dec 10, Proprietors Purse, $600, 1 Mile Heats, best 3 in 5. Results: W.J. Minor's Telie Doe beat J.S. Garrison's Kleber, and William R. & B.H Barrow's Dick Haile.