More than 750 people attended the Belle Meade Hunt's 46th annual Opening Meet on Saturday, as 26 wagons followed the hunters and hounds through the countryside on an old English-themed fox hunt.

Known as the largest opening meet in the world, it demonstrates fox hunting to a crowd of visitors and opens the season for members of the Belle Meade Hunt.

Epp Wilson, Charlie Lewis and Gary Wilkes serve as the joint masters of fox hounds, bearing the responsibility of the success of each hunt.

"If you like horses, hounds and the great outdoors, fox hunting is the most wonderful sport," Wilson said.

The opening meet is full of history and tradition, including a formal blessing of the hounds and a thousand-year-old prayer recited by a priest.

For more information, go to bellemeadehounds.com or call (706) 595-2525.