From The Publisher – February, 2015

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10 – February, 2015

By Tom Grabe

Every February seemingly everyone involved in the sport of purebred dogs makes the trip to snowy New York to worship at the Temple of The Garden – Madison Square Garden. They come for the show of shows, the one and only Westminster, America’s oldest dog show.

Many complain about the weather, the hotels, the expense and the difficulty managing their dogs in New York City, but they still show up year after year. Why? Because it’s Westminster!

I would venture to guess that nearly anyone who has had a dog that was #1 All Breeds or won 100 Best in Shows, or had any other history-making win would trade it all for Best In?Show at Westminster. It’s just that important to most fanciers.

Maybe the fact that it’s on live television that gives it caché. Maybe it’s 139 year history lends to the aura of this spectacle. The fact that the groups and Best in Show are judged on the Garden floor certainly adds excitement to an already electrifying competition.

Westminster holds a special place in our minds and our hearts. The reason, for me, is the great performances I have witnessed by special dogs at this show. We all get to see the great ones there. Sometimes they win, sometimes they lose, but they leave us with special memories we’ll never forget.

I remember seeing Hatter cruise to victory while the crowd cheered so loud the seats rattled. Who could forget Josh, the great Newfoundland, steal the show with a performance rarely seen from a dog his size. How about Stump, the Sussex Spaniel, topping ‘em all at the young age of 10! There was Andy and Indy, the Dobe. What a team!

Remember the year Robert, the great Springer, won Best In Show? I can still see him floating around the Garden floor, head and tail up, lead loose and draping behind him, while Barbara Heller watched in awe.

No one will ever forget the year the Pomeranian, Prince, and owner/handler Skip Piazza stole Michelle Billings’ heart and the BIS ribbon while defeating the great Shorhair, Ch. NMK’s Brittania V. Sibelstein. Prince owned the ring that night.

There are others I wish I could have seen: Woodchuck, the great pug with Bobby Barlow; Cinnar the half-eared Siberian; Bingo, the Scottie; Sunny Shay’s great owner/handled win with her unknown Afghan; the great Bulldog, Fearnought, and Storm, the Doberman breeders still talk about. I would have loved to have been there to see the great Warren Remedy win three times in a row.

I have memories of the great judges I showed to over the years at Westminster too. Mrs. Clark and Mel Downing immediately come to mind. Dorothy MacDonald, Michele Billings, Don Jones, and Jane Forsyth bring back fond memories as well. So back to my original premise about the value of a win at The Garden. My guess is most would trade their biggest win for that purple and gold Best in Show rosette. Why? It’s simple. It’s the one show everyone remembers.

Good luck to everyone at this year’s Westminster KC show. I hope you make some great memories.

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Posted by ralbee on Feb 8 2015. Filed under Current Articles, Editorial, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.