 About 150 protesters attended last year's event |
The Waterloo Cup hare-coursing event has been brought forward to allow it to take place before the hunting ban comes into place in February 2005. Organisers say the annual event, held at Altcar near Formby in Merseyside, will take place between 14-16 February.
A nationwide ban on fox hunting, deer-hunting and hare-coursing with dogs will be enforced on 18 February.
The bill was given Royal Assent earlier this month, bringing years of wrangling on the subject to an end.
Members of the Countryside Alliance have lodged papers with the High Court in London seeking a judicial review.
The ban is expected to be a key issue at the general election.
There was a stand-off at last year's Waterloo Cup between animal rights protesters and hunt supporters.
About 150 protesters took part in an hour-long protest against the sport.
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