Founded in 1914 by James and Jackson Boyd, the pack was recognized by the Masters of Foxhounds Association in 1921. Moore County Hounds is the oldest recognized pack of foxhounds in the state.
Four joint masters currently oversee the private pack. They are Virginia Moss (since 1969), Richard Webb (since 1961), David Dillard (since 1988) and Cameron Slade (since 2001).
The opening meet is one of only two public appearances of the hounds as a pack, the other being the close of the season at the annual hunter trials. Individual hounds are shown at the Carolina Hound show in May.
Professional huntsman Duncan Stewart has drafted Penn Marydell hounds into the formerly English and American crossbred pack, which has improved the voice and enthusiasm of the pack considerably.
Thursday’s sport will be a drag hunt, which means that hounds will follow a predetermined route made by laying down scent. This is the only drag hunt of the year, and should last about an hour before the field jumps the fenceline back into Hobby Field. For information, call the MCH kennel at 692-6889.
