, 1866-01-16
SPORTING INTELLIGENCE,
Grand Fo1.Chaac at Union Course,
L. Il.

Grand FOIsCAhAc At Union course
l.. l..
EFrm The n. \. Times, Jan. 1s,J
A fos.hunt is suggestive Of scarlet coats,
boots, including, Of course, high-bred horses.
A fox-chase, however. hereabouts entirely
dispcnses with these accessories. Instead Of
the expense of Ehippe1-in with tnll pack
of GO to 50 hounds, and champagne break
!ast previous to ths meet, the simple and
lied ont Oh Long Island, was made manifest
yesterday afternoon ut the above enclsoed
trottine track. Some Of the most prominent
sportEmen Of the Island have for long
time past INDUCED in The sport OF
chasing md destroying the foxes which
infest some portions Of tho grounds
OF farmers and market gardeners.
a few days since an announcement was
made public that "grand fox-ehase'' would
come OF at the Union Course, six young foxes
and fine pack of hounds, with able and eI-
perienced hunters to manage the affair, was
looked upon as rather ~ catch'' than gen
uine fo1-chase. Some said the frosty weather
and snow on the ground would prevent the
dogs scenting, while othera commended that
existed, hounds would not be got to hunt
them. Nevertheless, large crowd assem-
bled at the trysting place, and the assembly
was composed of gcnnine sportsmen, who
took thorough interest In the sports Of the
field, being q striking contrast to the hete-
rogenous mobs that sometimes assemble
TO witness trot Or running raee, for
Al the time announced, one p NJ, the man.
agers, NIessrs. Jesse Conklin, Selah C. Smith,
and Gideon Seaman, OF Babylon. L. l.,
accompanied by numerous body Of old
sports, including Messrs. Sim. Hoag1and and
Hiram Woodruff, made their appearance on
ffA4 nn1y THr kn+1v S3s n%k HE
loose, jumping and bowling around. seeming
anxiously e1pectant for the feast before them.
The foxes were boxed up In portion Of the
wagon which bore the dogs 10 The game des-
tination, only in separate compartments At
length the dogs we're called IN and stabbed
ont OF sight. Now a tox was dragged from
1- his cage By an ezpsFicneea, M,19a haad and lsi
ss soon rs he got bis liberty went nway
ut tremendous streak. Without the yc1-
ling Of the spectators, the fox was making
tracks fast enough, but this Spontaneous
chorus appeared TO accelerate hts speed.
Alter he had been let loose about ten NTH
out like 50 many hyenas, running in oil diEec-
tfons, until one came on the scent. Away be
rushed, the others soon following up the
chase. They all 60 now, having got the
right scent over the same ground the fox did,
until they find him cronched uway from
latigne- 1t Is now all up with poor Reynard.
his late Ia scaled.
The second fox let out went through the
same routine as the former, haying been
fairly run down by the bounds. A third was
liberated. He gave the dogs run Of about
two miles, but ultimately met the same fate
as his predecessors
The fourth fox was a regular "old fox"
having been saved up from last year. One
ear was cut to mark him from the others.
He was allowed about fifteen minutes start,
and right good chase be made The dogs
when unkeneled seemed to know the task
before them. On discovering the scent they
fox hunting dogs do. Old Reynardied them q
chase Of about three miles before be took
ambush, after which he ran most OF the way
through the enclosure, tn full view Of the
spectators. This was the most exciting run
OF any, and brought forth any amount OF
ha1loofng from the masses. Reynard was
ultimately run down.
old foxey In his ways. He ran within the en-
closure Tor over fifteen minutes, then Sue
ceedcd In waking his escape through the
fence. The dogs went after him pell.mell,
and probably would not have stopped TIL
now If they had not come up with hiun-such
is their nature. Young Rcynard led them a
good run over the fats, into the buslesr up
hill and into the valley, but he, too, after a
run Of about sir miles, came to the dogs, or
rather they went to him, and this ended the
sport.
Taken altogether, 1t WIS fine afternoons Is
sport, and nobody hurt, only the unfortunate
toxes. Great ptaiEe is due Nr. Hoagland, Of
East New York, for his good advice and man
agement Of the affair. Il was got up to gIre
the pnhlic an idea Of the nature Of the fo1-
chase rather. than for gaIn. The patrons were
genuine gportsmen Of the city and old farmers
Of Long Island. Several horsemen were pres
cpr, as well Us many carriage folks.
SUMMARY. =
Mr.. Gideon Seauan's kangaroo gufned three
brushes inside the track.
Mr. F. B. Ketchum's Chase ran down two
foxes, one inside tffe track and one outside.
Twelve hounds composed the pack.