FOXES FOXHOUNDS & FOX-HUNTING 



hound to drop into the field on the near side being 

 declared the winner. The trainers stand to- 

 gether, and as soon as the hounds appear in view, 

 they set up a chorus of shrill whistles and halloas. 

 A hound trained to such sounds will come straight 

 in, in an "all-out " finish. This practice of whist- 

 ling and shouting is an objectionable one, but it 

 occurs at most meetings. Far better is it to let 

 hounds run the trail fairly to a finish, and keep 

 quiet. Hounds give more or less tongue on the 

 trail, and the trainers can of course recognise the 

 voices of individual competitors. 



At one time hounds were often trained over the 

 actual course before a meeting. The trailer 

 would pick up the drag at some unseen spot, and 

 travel some distance before he put it down again. 

 On the day of the trail, the local hounds, wise to 

 the trick, would shoot straight ahead, leaving 

 the visiting competitors searching for the lost 

 line. 



There are usually several judges at the finishing 

 point, as the race is often very closely contested. 

 The prize-money and trophies are found by 

 entrance fees and subscriptions. Prior to 

 coming under a recognised association, hound 

 trailing was in none too good repute, for it 

 attracted the undesirable element at meetings. 

 A lot of money changes hands at the various 

 hound trails, for betting is really the chief in- 

 centive on the part of many people. This at 

 times lends to malpractices, no matter how care- 

 ful the supervision. From a purely sporting 

 and spectacular point of view, a hound trail is an 

 exceedingly interesting sight. Being a summer 

 sport, the weather is generally fine, while the 

 surroundings at many of the Lakeland meetings 

 are extremely picturesque. Last year (1921), 



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