FROM THE ARCHIVES:Master McGrath was Ireland's most famous greyhound, winning the Waterloo Cup for hare coursing (run from 1836 until 2005 when banned by the British Hunting Act) three times between 1868 and 1871. His final victory was marked by this editorial and news story in a six-page
Irish Timesfilled mainly by ads. –
JOE JOYCE
THE WINNING of the Waterloo Cup, for the third time, at the Altcar Course, Lancashire, by Master McGrath, has created an extraordinary sensation in sporting circles. This splendid Irish greyhound is the property of Lord Lurgan, and is exactly five years old this day.
Ireland is the fatherland of coursing, and among Irish greyhounds Lord Lurgan’s dog is facile princeps. The manner in which the prize is contended for is by a long series of trials in pairs. Sixty-four dogs were entered on the present occasion; they were divided into thirty-two pairs, each pair being set to run down a hare. The thirty-two victors are then divided into sixteen pairs, each of these new pairs being again tried on a new puss.
The sixteen adjudged to have performed best are then resolved into eight couples, which are then tested as before, the inferior dogs rejected and the eight superior animals tried in four new ties, and these again reduced to two.
The last two couples, on yesterday, consisted of Master McGrath v. Black Knight, and Pretender v. Deodora’s Daughter. Master McGrath and Pretender having run down their several hares, were then finally tried against each other, and the Irish dog proved successful for the third time. There was probably ten thousand pounds won and lost on him.
What exhibits the powers of this noble animal in the strongest light is that he has not been of late reserved for sporting purposes. His present victory proves the justice of the opinion that he was not in true form last year when he was defeated at Altcar in his very first tie.
Lord Lurgan had faith in his dog and putting him once more against the pick of English, Scotch, and Irish stables, has won, with him, the blue riband of the British coursing field.
Master McGrath today demonstrated himself to be the greatest canine wonder of the day, as, for the third time, he carried off the Waterloo Cup, beating, in the final course, the English representative, Pretender. The greatest excitement prevailed when the pair were slipped, and Master McGrath never allowed his opponent a chance, as he went right into the hare and killed, Pretender never scoring.
Lord Lurgan was loudly cheered, the demonstration made in his favour being unprecedented. Spooner, the trainer of the dog, was also besieged as he led the victor off the field, accompanied by Lord Lurgan’s valet carrying the hare which Master McGrath had slaughtered. The party won a tremendous stake by the success of the dog.
He is, no doubt, the best dog that ever competed for the stake, but rather lucky in his course.
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