Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-11

1t is not worth while going into particular
of this stake. Suffice to say that Rowdy Roc
clearly showed his superiority by winning frs
pace. Here it might be well to say that tn,
handlers were allowed entirely too much lib
erty. To arrive at a proper estimate of a dog
abilities the judges should not allow too much
handling. The dog ought to be made to show
his natural hunting instincts alone, as often the
handlers continual interference renders the
dog mere automatOn, afraid to do anything
OF his own free will. In the pointer derby the
judges had no difficulty in picking the winners
the aforementioned Rip Rap again proving
his superiority, Joy, jr., new face, taking
second. The others were not entitled to
their wins, as they had certainly not
shown sufficient merit. The alleged setter
stake next brought together many well-known
dogs both on the bench and in the field, but
lamentable as the fact may appear to many,
three dogs which are counted without peers in
the show ring. Cora of Wetherall, winner OF
Mrs Langtrys silver cup for best setter in New
York show in 1888; Count Howard and Princess
Beatrice, made very poor showing indeed.
being entirely outclassed and giving those
sports.nen who look down on bench-show win
ners something to crow over for many a long
day. This stake was productive of several
surprises; indeed it was thought that the
Memphis and Avent kennels had an air
tight in Chance and Rowdy Rod, but
like base ball and kindred sports, field
trials have their uncertainties, and
both these grand dogs were downed, the one
by Kings Mark. the other by Roger. The out
come Of the running was: Kings Mark, first:
Chance, second and Roger, third. Kings
Mark is blue belton by King Noble out of
Belle Bolton, and the great trotting horse JAY
Eye-See has made the name of his owner, J. L.
Chase, familiar throughout the land. This
dogs work was characterized by speed and
style, showing good, solid all-round work. He
Is greatly improved dog since last year.
Chance l have referred to. Roger, owned by
Mr.. l.. Gardner, is a black, white and tan by
Count Noble out of Meg.
he has very good nose, but his style is not
taking, and he shows disposition to sneak I'D
to his birds. The winners in the all-age poin-
ter stakes showed several new faces, though
they had also run at previous TRIALS The win
ner was Lebanon, who has been described
above, though the real winner according to
merit was Mr.. Hitchcock's Duke of Hessen
which took second prize, and Mr.. Ed Dexter's,
Charlottesville, Va, Pontiac, third Duke of
Hessen is liver and white by Luck of Hesseu.
out of Barney, and shows considerable speed
and ranging abilities, but did not work up to
his form IN previous trials Pontiac is liver
and white dog, by Millions Bang out of Gil
max. He is apt to potter in his work and will
go after other feather, such as meadow larks
but ranges fairly well. These were not the
best dogs, as Rip Rap's merits seemed to be ig-
nored, and it cannot be said the new system. as
expounded at Lexington, was an unqualified
success.
TRIALS HERE AND ABROAD.
In speaking of the methods of conducting
field trials in Europe and at home the differ
ences in the farming and other interests must
be taken into consideration. In England. for
instance, the trials are held in the spring,
though they are fast awakening to the fact that
this does not allow of the bringing out OF the
dogs best qualities, and move was made this
year by having the trials of the Irish settlers in
the fall. Spring being the close season it is not
therefore allowable to shoot the birds as they
rise, and consequently there is no test in drop-
ping to shot or retrieving. The latter is not
In England thought to be a part of a
sporting dogs curriculum, "a they usually have
a retriever or spaniel to do this work
entirely. Then, again, the nature of the
farms hunted over, usually on some nobleman' g
estate, like the duke of Portland's for instance.
precludes that free ranging that is such a
charm in our native dogs, The fields are en-
closed by thick hedges and a dog is confined to
one field till he has worked it over be 1t stub
BILE or turnips, and the game is partridge. no
quail This is where European dogs are at a
disadvantage when they come over here. The
country is wilder, so much freer ranging is
required and the game is chiefly quail.
Inc sportsmen are on horseback as
many OF our dogs and much of our
country where trials are held could not
be hunted otherwise. Under these diff