The Sporting Dictionary and Rural Repository, Volume 2 (of 2): Of General Information upon Every Subject Appertaining to the Sports of the FieldTaplin, William
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The Sporting Dictionary and Rural Repository, Volume 2 (of 2): Of General Information upon Every Subject Appertaining to the Sports of the Field
Taplin, William
Hunting -- Dictionaries; Sports -- Dictionaries
A few years since a hare was suddenly started at Finchingfield, in
Essex, when the brace of greyhounds running at her came into contact
with so much velocity, that both were killed on the spot. At Offham, in
Sussex, a brace of greyhounds coursed a hare over the edge of a
chalk-pit, and following themselves, were all found dead at the bottom.
The high spirit, persevering speed, and invincible ardour, of the
greyhound, not being universally known, (at least to those who have
either few or no opportunities to partake of the sport,) it may not be
inapplicable to introduce a singular circumstance which occurred in
1792. As LORD EGREMONT'S game-keeper was leading a brace of greyhounds
coupled together, a hare accidentally crossing the road, the dogs
instantly broke from their conductor, and gave chase, fastened as they
were to each other: the pursuit afforded an uncommon and no less
entertaining sight to several spectators. When the hare was turned, she
had a manifest advantage, and embarrassed the dogs exceedingly in
changing their direction; notwithstanding which, she was at length
killed at Pikeless Gate, after a course of between _three_ and _four_
miles. In 1796 a similar occurrence took place in Scotland, where a
brace of greyhounds, in couples, killed a hare after a course of a mile
with intervening obstructions.
Endeavours having been made to acquire some degree of information upon
the subject of comparative speed between a _greyhound_ and a RACE-HORSE
of superior powers and celebrity, it was at length brought to a decision
by absolute matter of chance. It having been previously submitted to the
opinion of an experienced sportsman, which would prove to possess the
greater portion of speed for _a mile_, or for a longer or shorter
distance, he returned for answer, that, upon a flat, he had no doubt but
a first rate horse would prove _superior_ to the greyhound; unless in a
_hilly_ country, where he conceived a good greyhound would have the
advantage. The information not to be acquired by any direct mode, was
brought to trial by an incident which occurred upon the Course of
Doncaster in 1800, and was precisely thus.
A match was to have been run between a horse and a mare for one hundred
guineas. At the time appointed, the former not appearing, the mare
started _alone_, to insure the STAKES; when, after having ran little
more than a mile, a greyhound bitch (to the great admiration and
entertainment of the company) took to her from the side of the Course,
and continued racing with her the other three miles, keeping her regular
line nearly _head_ and _head_, which produced a most excellent match;
for when they reached the DISTANCE POST, five to four was betted upon
the greyhound; when they came abreast of the stand, it was even betting;
and the mare won by only _a head_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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