Coursing in Spain.- The Andalusian "Waterloo Cup." 1913.

For Sale is a Full Page removed from "The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, March 15th, 1913," showing an article with illustrations for "Coursing in Spain.- The Andalusian "Waterloo Cup."

During January the great Spanish coursing meeting in connection with the "Copa de la Ina" which takes place at Jerez de la Frontera, in the province of Cadiz, is the main topic of conversation in Spanish sporting circles.  Coursing is one of Spain's old-established sports, and is hand in glove with bull-fighting, every bull-fighter being a keen "courser" and possessing at least a couple of greyhounds.  It is, however, only the last two years which have seen the revival of the keenness which existed twenty years ago and which is marked by the institution of the "Copa de la Ina", a trophy which has not inappropriately been called the "Spanish Waterloo Cup", since the name of Ina is a modern corruption of the old name Aina, and it is on the plains of this name that the annual coursing meeting is held, and also was it there that the battle of Aina freed Spain from the Moor, just as Waterloo freed England from the anxiety as to Napoleon. The "Copa de la Ina". is, of course, only open to dogs bred in the country.  It may not be out of place to mention here that imported dogs do not give good sport with the Spanish hare, which the years of persecution has developed into a far smaller and more wiry animal than her English cousin.  These hares have a wonderful staying power which defeats the imported greyhound, unless he manages to chop them in the first sprint. "What the cat thinks the mouse thinks too".  So runs the native proverb, and it is true in the case of the greyhounds.  If the hare is toughened by generations of harrying by lurchers and charges of dust-shot from the long native muzzle-loaders, the dogs are also hardened by starvation and ill-usage.  There was no massage or foot bathing, and only one rug seen on the plains of "La Ina", yet it rained steadily on three days of the meeting.  There was great jubilation at the success of a local dog, the seven year old Bolido, in the final, and the "Marcha Real" was played when he was brought in before the party given in honour of the guests.  Bolido was given to his present owner for nothing as the worthless one of a litter.

Condition is Very Good.