The New York herald., 1871-03-19
ENGLISH FIELD SPORTS.
COursing the Hare with Grey.
hounds in England.
lntiquity Of the Sp,rtThs Laws Of Coursing-
The Great Waterloo Cup-Third Victory
OF Master McGrath : Description Of
the Meeting at Altcar-His-
tory Of the Victory.

LONDON March /, ls7l
Tue courslng OF the hare with greyhounds which
always keep the animal In sight and capture and
kill him by superior speed IS one Of the very Oldest
OF English sports. II was well known among
the ancients, and were its history traced from
the time when we first ind 1t mentioned
by the classics down 10 few days since
tFebruary IN when the Waterloo Cup-.the
greatest coursing prize In the worldwas won by
the IRISH dog Master McGrath volume OF rare
interest would be The result. In remote times the
mare was not the only animal chased IN this way
for the stag, the wolf, the wild goat, the fox AMI
other ANIMALS noted Tor their speed became tho
prey OF the hounds, ana doubtless were able 10
render better account Of themselves when brought
TO bay than poor 'puss.' The ancient British prac
rice oi coursing embraced the chase Of deer and
foxes, as well as haTcs; but there is reason TO
believe that the greyh0unds employed were
OF o size and strength commensurate with
the game they were to be entered TO.
The practice Of modern coursiny may be said
10 date from the time OF Queen Elizabeth, under
whose patronage 1t became a fashionable pursuit. as
1t has ever since continued. To further methodize
and give stability to the sport coie OF laws was
framed by the Duke Of Norfolk. great lover OF the
leash, that became the stock on which the The rules
these meetings there are now vast numoer not
only IN all parts OF England. but in Ireland and In
Scotland, where even many or the ''unco guld,' who
look upon racing as the broad road that leadeth TO
destruction, are not indifferent 70 the contests OF
the ''ong tails.' These meetings are generally
under the management OF clubs. each member Of
which has a nomination TO The various stakes; but
OF course he Is not bou.d TO run his own dog, but
may name that of somebody else.
THE LAWS or cOURsNd
have from time to time received many notifications
and In the present day they are not uniform: but
there are many points in common, brief descrp-
tion Of which may convey to the foreigner who
knows not the sport some idea OF how II Is pursued
In the first place. each hare Is in matches, pursued
by only couple of greyhounds, and the manru-
wiring between the three Is watched by authorized
Judge on horseback, who decides, according to the
rules and his own observation, which dog has won.
The hare Is allowed four or i've score yards claw"
or start before the greyhounds are looscd from The
slips, II the nature OF the ground viii admit OF 1t
without danger OF losing her. or course there are
many districts or country where sucn a 'law'
would be impossible, for two out OF every three
hares would get clear OF, and the judge would not
have an opportunity OF determining the relative
speed, ganeness ana honesty OF the dogs. Honor
able Sportsmeh VIII give poor ''puss" every reason
able opportunity of ESCAPING. and will not nut the
dogs under any guidance after they are looset but
their owl natural propensity to kill tue game. The
lcoslng IL an operation OF some difficulty and IS
always enlrustci TO an experienced Official named
The ''Slprer,r who manages q complicated tackle
In which the two greyhoands are csnfned until The
word ''Go' Is given, when he Its them ont OF the
"sllls 81 on as nearly equal terms possible. The
judges generally observe that they are fairly de-
sratched and that they both see the hare ana then
gallops after them to watch their speed and skill.
There Is a "hare iinier' who gives loud ''hailoo
Wien he disco, ers puss IN order to warn all whom
1t may concern OF the Fact, and particularly the
dogs. who naturally look in the direction from
winch the sound proceeds. A great many terms are
emploYed The srort--ln the reckoning OF points
which, even with the fullest explanation, must be
nnntciliglDe TO the unntiated, aud or which 1t Will
be necessary say only .ew words. A ''cotcr
which Is reckoned two pons, is when two dogs
start even together aud one outruns the otner and
gives the hare turn or wrench; but If the hare
takes a circuitous course, and the clog winch runs
the outer circle gives the turn, II Is counted three
angle from the line on Witch she has been running
1t is called wrench" nut II she goes If around
1t isa turn,' when Is equal TO TWO wrcache.. The
'kil,'' IN which the dog catches the hare with his
mouth In the back Is counted two points II 1t is q
Kill OF merit, a matter In which the Judge is
allowed certain discretion There are a great
many otner rules which are interesting only TO the
thorough ccurser, tut the above may convey some
Every movement OF the hare aud OF the greyhounds
Is attenyely watched not only by the Judge but by
hundreds and at great meetings, thousands of
adopts, and every curve turn. angle, every variety
vi Skill every degree OF speed have their different
values, and are carefully reckoned IN awarding the
decision
tue WATERLOO couRsIN6 Crp
Is prize competed for oy sixty.four nomlnat5rs,
who subscribe TWENTY-FIVE sovereigns each, ami ct
the total amount, $780, the winner receives 950O
the owner or the second dog f2po; the owners Of the
next two dogs $50 each; the owners OF the next
each; the owners OF the next sixteen 210
each; while Included arc the Waterloo
the Cup Stakes, the former Of which Is
competed for by the thirty.two dogs beaten IN the
dogs beaten in the I @ lies OF the pursc AS M
dogs have TO run and they must run III pairs, 1t Is
evident that they must be put against each other dog
for dog; that Inc winners must then contend in the
same way: tnat winner must meet winner In the
third round III ike manner, and 80 on until The con-
test Is ieiuced match between the two best dogs
III the whole stakes. The draw, which took place last
Tuesday night at the Adcphi Hotel, Liverpool, is
natofs TO the cup who include the greatest coursers
in the Kingdom, meet at dinner, after which they
draw their dogs BY lot against each other In pairs,
ana then bet Oh the probabilities. AT time the
cup was altogether unknown a. me-
DUN OF speculation, Just as other coursing
years it has taken prominent place In the 'malket
quotations." lor mouths Is bettsd on By the Loadon
by owners of dogs, but ~ such OF the public gene
rally as incline 10 gambling The 'Niraw' has, Of
course, o considerable influence on the specuation;
for If fate decides that two great lavores have to
meet each other, IL is evident that one or other OF
them must be beaten, whereas IL great favoriIe Is
ptted against an "outslder'i his chances must be
considerably Improved.
THE MEETING
took place, as usual, at Altcar, about eight miles
from Liverpool, on the estate OF a famous sports
man, Lord seton, aud near the VI lage OF Waterloo,
from which the cup takes Its name. 1t Is bleak,
bare spot. but being OF vast extent Is suited to
in thousands The attendance on this occa.
sion was enormous, far larger than 1t had been
at any previous meeting ana tho interest," especially
as The contest was approaching iis conclusion,
intense. In the opening round the 1r5t fayorite,
Lord Haddingtons bendemecr mad to meet Nj.
Briggs Bed of stone, and ran three tremendous
undecided heats VITO her, when 1t became necessary
to withdraw one or them, and as Mr.. Briggs was
not present ms lordship dd not again run his dog
Lord Lurxans dog. Master McGrath, who was also
a great favorltc, won his trial In 4 rather soveny
fashion; anu sea Cove VINO carried on the cup last
year, was beaten III the most hollow STYLE Another
public avorlte, Mr. Gbson's Smugglcr, was likewise
disposed Of, and so were Mr.. Fortestcr's Fritz, MIR.
BlacastoekS Macdonald, Sir Carel MolyneuX's
Michael, Dr. Richardson's Laudcrdalc, Mr. Ieglis'
Latest News, Lord SeiLons Soprano and Mr.. Clark's
Chyalry, all OF whom had been backed for great
sums oi money. In the second round there were, OF
course sixteen pairs of dogs TO contend. but In this
and subsequent heats there no "draw;' the first