THE TORONTO 



be convinced of this fact. True it is that these packs are maintained chiefly 

 for stag- and boar-hunting, rather than exclusively for the pursuit of the fox, 

 but the French residents in that portion of the Province of Quebec which 

 has been hunted by the Montreal Hunt for over eighty years have learned 

 to love the sport of fox-hunting, and not only has all opposition long since 

 ceased, but there has sprung up near Montreal, of late, an organization whose 

 officers and members are predominantly of French descent. 



The Toronto Hunt owes its origin to a small group of Englishmen who 

 formed a Hunt Association at Toronto about the middle of the last century. 



The newly formed organization elected to the office of M. F. H. John 

 Hendrie, Esq., and backed him with a liberal subscription for the purpose 

 of procuring a pack of hounds and putting the Hunt on its feet. Mr. Hen- 

 drie was a keen hunting man, a great lover of horses and perhaps the most 

 noted Canadian sportsman of his day. He always maintained a large stud 

 for the breeding of racehorses and hunters, and no name is better known 

 today in the racing world of America. A number of drafts were obtained 

 from England, and the Master, wdth J. Halligan as huntsman, began regular 

 hunting. After a very successful Mastership, Mr. Hendrie gave up the 

 hounds and Mr. J. Copeland was elected in his stead. 



The records of this period are obscure, but it was during Mr. Copeland's 

 years in office that the Hunt received a great impetus by the stationing in 

 Toronto of English regiments, both cavalry and infantry, some ten years 

 after the founding of the organization. Wherever British officers are sta- 

 tioned, the world over, there British national sport in some form or other is 

 sure to flourish, and these may be called the golden years of the Toronto 

 Hunt. Mr. Copeland resigning about this time. Colonel Jennings took com- 

 mand of the pack and country, and, procuring additions to the kennels from 

 England, gave his Field sport of the very highest order until compelled to 

 resign his office on account of his regiment being ordered away. Mr. George 

 Gooderham succeeded Col. Jennings, but the loss of the support of the mili- 

 tary element was a severe one and the Hunt languished for several years 

 during his Mastership and that of his successor, Mr. Andrew Smith. 



During the early nineties, however, the Hunt was re-organized, new ken- 



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