The Veteran's Views. 11 



of the Biggleswade pack for the past seventy-one years, 

 having succeeded his father in that position in 1840. 

 He was always a careful and successful breeder of 

 hounds, and used to have a preference for bitches over 

 dogs, believing them to be quicker and handier. It is 

 on record that until the Harrier Stud Book was compiled 

 he chiefly relied upon the small stallion hounds of the 

 Oakley Kennel. Anyhow, he built up an excellent 

 pack, and sold the hounds at a good price in 1906, 

 when he formed another kennel. As is mentioned by 

 the correspondent whose remarks I have quoted above, 

 Mr. Race still drives after his hounds, and has done so 

 for some years past. Naturally he knows every inch of 

 the country they cover, and is generally not far from 

 them when they kill. 



"There never was a veteran hunting man who would 

 compare the sport of the present day favourably with 

 that as he knew it years ago. . . . 



" ' I am sorry to say,' remarked Mr. Race a year ago, 

 * that I think hunting is not so good as it was fifty years 

 ago, as I find people are not so inclined to join in the 

 joys of the Chase as they did then.' 



" His own recollections of sport are still remarkably 

 vivid. 



" ' After having the hounds for over seventy years,' 

 he says, * I can recall many, very many, wonderfully 

 good runs. I have repeatedly had several good runs 

 with hares extending over five, six, seven, eight and 

 nine miles.' 



