At school we were taught that one way to observe an eclipse is to use a colander, although they told us to be careful not to strain our eyes… I remember asking my Dad if he could tell me what a solar eclipse was. He replied: “No Son.”

I have more jokes about the forthcoming eclipse, but I can’t use them all here because they get a bit dark.

Only five weeks ago I wrote about Eclipse – the dominant late eighteenth century racehorse, foaled during an eclipse, whose skeleton is preserved at the Royal Veterinary College at Hertfordshire. I was subsequently informed by a reader that there was a fashion for preserving the hooves of popular horses to use as ink wells at the time, and that there are at least five such inkwells in existence that are attributed to Eclipse. No wonder he was fast.

The great horse gave his name to the Eclipse Stakes, the Grade 1 race at Sandown which was the last time we tipped a blog-winner. This week’s selection, Phantom Shadow, is appropriately named to provide a further ray of sunshine when he runs on Saturday evening at Ayr.

Eclipse inspired a sporting phrase which is still used today to express an unusually high level of supremacy: “Eclipse first, the rest nowhere!” Which could be the headline for racing next Wednesday when the programme at Ffos Las has been brought forward to accommodate darkening skies. Racing at the Welsh track, where roughly 90% of the Sun will be obscured by the moon, will conclude shortly after 6.10pm. The eclipse is due to take place there between 6.17pm and 8.06pm, and although it won’t go completely dark, the quality of the light could have made photo-finishes difficult to judge.

While the eclipse will affect all parts of Britain, racegoers at Kempton are unlikely to notice much difference due to the floodlights around the all-weather track – which will not only secure the judge’s view of the finishing line, but will also distract from any significant opportunity to observe the sky.

In Yorkshire I’m told that some upland farmers are planning to charge members of public for watching the eclipse while standing on the hills, which sounds a bit like daylight robbery.

Meanwhile, here in the Scottish Borders, we’re looking forward to clear skies and sunny weather so that we can enjoy the full experience as the moon passes between the Sun and the Earth – the alignment which occurs during a solar eclipse.

I’m informed by a younger member of my family that when the Earth passes between the Sun and the moon, causing a shadow to pass over the moon, it’s termed a lunar eclipse. And if the Sun should pass between the moon and the Earth, this will be known as an “apocalypse”.

I told you they were dark.