Lovers of the Horse 



43 



The Toronto Hunt Club-house 



attended, tliere being seldom less than forty or fifty present, all well mounted, includ- 

 ing, as a rule, five or six ladies. From time to time, the kennels, still under the careful 

 management of John Ilalligan, with Tim Blong as kennelman, were replenished 

 with fresh drafts of hounds from England and elsevvhei'e, and gradually the Toronto 

 Hunt worked its way into public prominence as a sporting organization. Frequent 

 hunt meetings tended to increase the interest in steeplechases and cross-country races, 

 and many keen and exciting contests were witnessed on the impromptu steeplechase 

 courses in and about Toronto. In 1S83. Dr. Andrew Smith, one of the originators 

 of the Hunt (and still a most enthusiastic and active supporter of it) was elected M.F.H., 

 which position he retained until the reorganization of the Club in 1893. Too much 

 cannot be said of Dr. Smith's untiring efforts in the cause of good sport, and too much 

 credit cannot be given him for the time and energy which he has devoted to the Club 

 from its inception and the interest which he still takes in it. Suffice it to say, that under 

 this good sportsman the Club continued to prosper and the meets became more and 

 more popular, until the Clul) grew to such j)roi)ortions that a complete reorganization 

 was necessitated in 1893. The late Mr. D'Alton McCarthy was elected President, 

 and Mr. George W. Beardmore, Master. I}\ the summer of 1894, drafts of hounds 



