3-028-231 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Calpe Hunt Steeplechases, Gibraltar, 1870. 'Wherever Englishmen go they keep alive the recollection of their native country by introducing the sports peculiar to England..Gibraltar prides itself on possessing the oldest established and best pack in the world out of the United Kingdom...There are records of the pack, in 1815, under the title of the "Calpe Hunt," and in every winter since then, the foxes in the extreme south of Andalusia have had reason to know of the existence of the Calpe hounds...In connection with the Calpe hunt, steeplechases take place every spring. The meeting shown in our Illustration took place on March 24, at a place in Spain about three miles from the rock. The course presented a curious scene, owing to the variety of costumes worn by the spectators; for though the Spaniards take little interest in either hunting or racing, and think the English are mad to race across country as they do, when they could jog comfortably along the road, curiosity and the hope of gain prompted the attendance of considerable numbers of the native people. The sketch we have engraved shows the appearance of the course at the time of the race for the Hunt Cup, when Mr. Wallace, R.A., landed Hermano a winner, after a most exciting race'. From "Illustrated London News", 1870.