MP Mr Pickthall said: "Hare coursing is the most horrible of a wide range of unpopular blood sports.
"The Waterloo Cup, which takes place in my constituency, is its major event. I have campaigned against it throughout my 12 years in Parliament.
"The elected chamber has consistently voted by huge majorities to ban hunting with dogs. Our will cannot be ignored. I am confident that the end of coursing with dogs is nigh."
Lancashire Police has put 50 extra officers on standby and last night said it was well prepared to cope with the hundreds of objectors and 5,000 specta-tors expected today.
VINNIE'S DOG AT 12-1
VINNIE Jones, right, was given odds of 12-1 on his dog Smoking Girl to win the Waterloo Cup, at a call-over in the Prince of Wales Hotel in Southport last night.
The favourite to win the overall event is Allformegrog, entered by Terry Cordon. Dragonfly, which is one third owned by television cook Clarissa Dickson Wright, was given odds of 50-1. In all, 64 dogs will run in 32 slips today.
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