Is a slipper the starter? And does that say 'paid judge'? It sounds a pretty money-making affair ... if you wanted to race your hound you had to buy a dinner ticket as well as pay your 'entrance money'. And it cost a shilling to get in, or 2s6d if you came on horseback .. £3.12.6 times 16 ... plenty of profit there with the stakes being £36 ...
Ah well, a day of 'gentlemanly sport' and a jolly social beanfeast at the end ... country pleasures!
I regret to relate that owing to the 'unfavourable state of the weather' (in other words a hard frost) the meet did not take place on the day announced ...
Well, they got full fields, ran the following week ... and look! the Earl didn't win!
Well, I guess a good time was had by all. And how much more joyful to spend a day in the lovely grounds of the Ferrers Estate than in the barren surrounding of 21st century dog tracks ..
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