Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-03

brought down by the owner and il is said that
| Mr. Rowland had not been in Washington
twenty-four hours before the Dumblane Club
| as it now exists formed. This is probably
| an exaggeration. but at any rate it was
| formed early that winter. Mr.. Herbert and
| Mr.. Rowland came together The former had
| the hounds, such as they were, the latter un-
! limited energy and enthusiasm and a fine string
| OF hunters. The Dumblane Club was the re-
suit
| THE CLUB HOUSE
| and place known as 'Dumblans" at Tenley-
| town was rented, several thousand dollars
spent in fitting the building up and with
| about sixty members the club went in
| for a winters hunting. Most of the members
| were rather green at that sort Of thing, the
| average horses were mediocre and many were
| the ground and lofty tumbles indulged in by
! the wouid-be hunter before moderate success
| was achieved.
| Last spring was marked by renewed vigor in
| the new organization. Mr.. Charles Briscoe was
| engaged to take charge OF the hunting APP
| paratus and of the hounds. trained pack was
| selected by him in England and brought over.
| About this time Mr.. Herbert returned to
! Europe and the sole burden Of management
dropped on the shoulders of Mr.. Rowland, and
! TO his untiring energy the club undoubtedly
owes a large measure of its success The
spring was also marked by the first club race
| meeting. which took place on May %. and
proved great success. and taken in connection
with the meeting this week assures the con-
tinuation OF the annual Dumblane races.
LAST WINTERS HUNTING.
Last winters hunting WAS entered into with
a vim. In the club were about dozen horses
fit for hunting and the bugle and the hound
were heard around Washington at frequent iu-
tervals. One of the peculiar features of the
Dumblane Club consists in the pleasant rela-
| tons existing between the club and
the neighboring farmers. Last winter
few planks to repair fences was the
extent Of the damages which the
club was called upon to pay. The club at
present have twelve couples of fine hounds.
Among the members who have horses fully up
to the cross-country standard may be mentioned
Mr.. Rowland, Mr.. Drayton, Mr.. Neville, Mr..
hnut, Mr.. Page and Prof. Emmons. There
are also several horses at the riding
school thoroughly proficient in the
act of securing behind the hounds
Most of the other horses owned by club MEM
bers are hardly up to the standard. Improve
ments are being made all the time, however,
| and by fall a number Of additions will be made
to the cracks.
HIGH JUMPER.
One of the horses following the hounds last
winter was Mr.. Howland's famous Ontario, con-
sidered the highest jumper in the world. She
has a record of feet 1917 inches and no doubt
could beat that if tried.
THE CLUB HOUSE.
The Dumblane club house is splendid place
for all seasons-in easy reach of the city and
yet with a country flavor. The club has spent
large sums of money in fitting it up in proper
manner. and have succeeded admirably in the
design. The membership of the club now is
about one hundred.
The race meetings as has been said before,
were started as more of an amusement than
any thing else, but the club speedily realized
the value of the events, and every effort is now
put forth to make the days success. The
members realized that steeple chasing at the
regular race meetings had become a mere
source OF professional gambling. The public
had lost all confidence in the squareness Of
such events. and both in an effort to secure
noble sport from being utterly degraded and
also to further encourage the gentlemen farm
ers to the raising OF good stock OF half-bred
hunters 1t was necessary for the amateur to
take up and develop steeple chasing.
Last year five cups were offered and Balti-
more carried off the palm, winning three of
the five events. namely. the heavy weight. the
DUmblane ana the hurdle: New York won the
pony cup, Virginia carried off the three-quarter
mile for half breds and Washington grasped
only one event, this honor falling to Mr. Knut,
on Eolock, by Eolus, in the race for the Wash
ington cup.
NEW YORK AGAINST VIRGINIA.
The rivalry this week has been rather
between the New York raised horsa as against
the Virginia raised horse and SO far the Vir-
ginia flyers have more than held their own. In
the first race on Thursday Mr.. Foxhall Keene
| on Buckshot, New York horse, car.
ried off the honors. In the second
Mr. Knut on Mr.. Blair's Vixen;
| a Virginia animal, was the victor. The WASH
| ington cup also won by Mr.. Knut on an
other Virginia horse his famous Cock o the
Walk. A Virginia horse also carried off the
Tenleytown cup. this race being won by Mr..
Ryder on killaloe. The Ivy City cup was car
ried off by New York animal, Retribution.
ridden by Mr.. Kernochan.
| 1t may be said, however, that in general the
Genesee valley horses outclass the Virginia ami
| mails in size and carrying capacity across coun-
try. while the Virginia horse excels in dashes Of
speed and i'll gameness. All that is necessary
| to make the latter superior in all points is
| much-needed building up of bone in the stock
This the Dumblanc Club is helping TO do and
all hail their work.