What the Westminster BIS Lineup Says About Us
302 – March 2019
by Sandy Weaver
How wonderful to have two ne plus ultra events in AKC conformation – The AKC National Championship and Westminster.
Both inspire hopes and dreams in nearly every person to ever set foot in a show ring, and both showcase the best of the best of the best by the time the judges have winnowed things down to Best In Show competition.
Westminster Kennel Club has been called America’s Dog Show. Long before any other dog event was televised, Westminster was. Long before there were shows and clusters scattered across Amer- ica on any given weekend, there was an ambitious, intrepid and wealthy group of New York dog men who formed a club and started a tradition. This quote from Field and Stream magazine sums up the grandeur of their first show in 1877:
“To say that the dog show held in the city last week was a success would but poorly convey an idea of what the result really was. It was a magnificent triumph for the dogs and for the projectors of the show. We question if on any previous occasion has there ever assembled in this city such a number of people at one time, and representing as much of the culture, wealth and fashion of the town.”
Some things haven’t changed. Westminster Kennel Club is still tops on the “Best Dressed at the Dog Show” list, though with the occasional quite-questionable ensemble seen on the green carpet. The show is circled by galas, cocktail receptions, dinners and other chi chi meet-and-greets. AKC plans their big events and media splashes in conjunction with Westminster, this year opening The Museum of the Dog just in time to welcome visitors in town for The Big Show. New York City rolls out the red carpet for dog people from around the world, with hotels that don’t allow dogs the rest of the year throwing open their doors to host Westminster’s four-legged competitors.
And everyone with a coveted entry into one of America’s last benched shows arrives, butterfly-laden, at the event of their dreams. So what does the Westminster Best In Show lineup say about us? It speaks volumes…
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Posted by Alex
on Mar 26 2019. Filed under Current Articles, Featured.
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