Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-30
TO Rox-HouND OWNERS.
Inferesffng Pefufs About Prfzes "a
tho Hench- show.

Inferesffng Pefufs About Prfzes es
the Bench-show.
Captain John s. Wise, president OF
the Virginia Field-Spcrts Association,
under whose auspices and control the
bench-show at the Exposition will be
held, yesterday addressed to gentle
man in Spotsylvania county, who owns
a good many fox-hounds and is fond OF
that sport, the following letter, which
will convey valuable information TO the
owners of dogs of this class who may
wish to enter them at the great bench
show which opens October 9th, to con-
tinue for four days:
RIcnioSD. VA, August 20, 1888.
Dear Sir: Replying to yours of the
9th instant, the pfizes offered for fox
hounds are under two distinct heads.
Rewards are first offered in the bench
show as follows:
For the first best hound dog or bitch) In
the snow. fAS ~
For the best PACK OF hounds. not less than
s&........................ - W
For the bosI specimen OF Old bluc-mottied
| hound eEhibited............... ~ ~
OF course these prizes will be awardfd
10 the dogs upon their appearance in the
bench.show. But besides these prizes.
which have no relation to the dogs work
or capacity to work except by bis APP
pearance, we are going to have regulir
fox-hunts every day. Those hunts Will
be made up out OF packs, and three Of
the best fox hunters in the State OF Viz
ginia-to-wit Mr.. William S. Archef.
Captain Joseph Hobson, and another
gentleman not yet determined upon-will
act as masters of the hounds. We have
already secured sufficient number OF
foxes TO guarantee first-clsss fox-hunting
every day and at the conclusion OF each
days hunt the three gentlemen above
named will vote which pack, taking al
things into consideration-nose, running
together, speed. trueness to the line.
and oil the qualities which make good
pack-is entitled to the first prize and
which to the second. / think that the
first prize each day will be $50 and the
second prize SOS. OF course this award
cannot settle absolutely which pack is
the best but if will come as near to it ns
honest men can, taking all things into
consideration, and that is the best we
can do.
From all l can learn there will be q
very large attendance of fox. hounds and
sportsmen, and it will he a great oppor'
tuhity not only to display your dogs to
advantage, but TO have great sport for
yourself. The only expense attending
your dogsw be the entrsncefee. Wewill
have in the dog-show excellent space TO
keep your dogs, with plenty Of straw and
comfortable bed. We will feed them.
water them, and take the best care OF
them during the whole four days.
Spratt's Company undertakes to do this
at 81. .25 q head, and the American Ken
mel Club requires us to pay fifty cents
apiece for registering them.
We have resolved TO charge ontbe first
four fox hounds entered by any exhibitor
the regular entry fee of $50, and on all
fox hounds over and above four we will
charge but S1.75 each, go as 10 cover
simply the outlay which we have to make
| to Spratt's and the American KenDel
Club for feeding, &C.. and registering.
This is certainly very cheap, and itseems
to me all fox-hunters ought to be willing
to pay this rate. But, in conclusion, lei
me soy to you that il there is any in
formation called for by you omitted in
the above. or further information re-
quired. VIII be glad to give it. II is
our desire and expectation to have as fine
a meet of dogs as was ever held in Vir-
ginia, and we will spare nothing to secure
that end. Yours truly,
JOHN s. WISE, President.