THE DEEP RUN 



things passed away, and the late sixties found but a remnant of the many 

 packs that had flourished as late as '61. 



Poverty held down sport then, but in spite of the fact that mere existence 

 was a struggle, many a country gentleman still maintained a hound or two 

 and, as in the early days in England, joined his neighbors in assembling a pack 

 and hunting the red and gray fox. Up to 1885 this system of hunting pre- 

 vailed, and it was only with the advent of a number of English settlers, for 

 the most part younger sons of English gentlemen who came to Virginia to 

 farm, that hunt clubs began to be formed. 



The Deep Run Hunt, proper, might be termed an English institution, for 

 it was fostered by Mr. Blacker, a wealthy Irishman, who owned " Chantilly," 

 just outside of Richmond, by Major Hancock and Captain Hancock, Iavo 

 Englishmen, sons-in-law of Mr. Blacker, by Mr. P. A. S. Brine, British 

 Vice-Consul to Virginia, Mr. Leathley, an Irishman, Mr. Clarke, an English- 

 man, and Dr. Tritton, an Englishman. Of course, these were but a few of 

 the members of the club, the majority of whom were Virginians, but it was 

 certainly due to English influence that Deep Run was put upon a firm foun- 

 dation. Major Hancock was the first Master, and the club had no club- 

 house proper, but met twice a week, on Wednesday and Saturday, at 

 " Chantilly," where the hounds were kenneled. 



After three years of this sort of life, the club grew to some fifty members, 

 and secured a clubhouse just off the Broad Street Road, half a mile from 

 " Chantilly." The house was primitive and small, but the sport furnished was 

 exceedingly good. Major Hancock returning to England, Captain Hancock, 

 his brother, took over the hounds, and shortly thereafter the present clubhouse 

 near the Hermitage Road was secured. This is large and commodious, with 

 an excellent mile track adjoining it and a first-rate steeplechase course near-by. 

 The club now has in the neighborhood of two hundred and fifty resident 

 and non-resident members, the President being Mr. Ormond Young. The 

 season begins each year about the 1 st of November, and continues without 

 interruption until the 1 st of April, the weather being such that scarcely a 

 day is lost from hunting. For a number of years an American pack was 

 maintained, but of late an English pack has been purchased, and only Eng- 



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