Green’s Dictionary of Slang

of a pace, fast.

1843		London Standard 6 Dec. 1/5: The hounds [...] went away at a clipping pace.
1856		Morn. Post (London) 26 May 6/2: Red rushed by at a clipping pace.
1859		G.F. Atkinson Curry & Rice (3 edn) n.p.: Dhalbat is a clipping rider.
1861		Newcastle Guardian 5 Jan. 8/4: Both running at a clipping pace.
1875		Sheffield Dly Teleg. 28 Dec. 3/3: They were despatched to a fairly even start, and at once set to work at a clipping pace.
1888		Western Dly Press 28 Aug. 3/5: A very fine stag [...] which, after going a clipping pace through several farms, got on to the line.
1896		B’ham Daily Gazette 2 Sept. n.p.: [The fox] ran at a clipping pace [EDD].
1904		Sydney Sportsman (Surry Hills, NSW) 13 Jan. 6/3: Willis had heaps the best of the second round, which was fought at a clipping pace.