Page 72 - Aussie Magazine - 2024 Issue 3
P. 72
Shows
The show was such a hit that Kennel Club and its famed strike that threatened to shut
it was extended to four days annual dog show at Madison down the city, in the process
from its originally scheduled Square Garden, consider this: becoming the second-longest
three, and drew this coverage Westminster pre-dates the continuously held sporting
from “Forest and Stream” invention of the light bulb, the event in the country. Only
magazine: “To say that the automobile, and the zipper; the Kentucky Derby has been
dog show held in the city last the building of the Brooklyn staged longer – but by just two
week was a success would Bridge and the Washington years.
but poorly convey an idea of Monument; and manned air
what the result really was. It flight and the establishment Westminster even pre-dates the
was a magnificent triumph for of the World Series. The dog establishment of the governing
the dogs and for the projectors show has outlasted three body of the sport, the American
of the show. We question if previous versions of Madison Kennel Club, by seven years.
on any previous occasion has Square Garden and is currently In fact, in 1877, members of
there ever assembled in this being staged in MSG IV. It is Westminster and members of
city such a number of people one of only four events to be the Kennel Club of Philadelphia
at one time, and representing held in all four “Gardens.” had together adopted a set of
as much of the culture, wealth The dog show has survived show rules and regulations and
and fashion of the town.” power outages, snowstorms, established a Board of Appeals
To fully grasp the place in a national depression, two to oversee these rules. This was
history of the Westminster World Wars and a tugboat the precursor of the American
Kennel Club, which was finally
created in 1884. As one might
imagine, the history of the club
and its show is rich and colorful.
2021 — For the first time in
its history, the show was held
in June and outside New York
City at the Lyndhurst Estate
in Tarrytown, New York. The
move was due to the COVID-19
pandemic.
Requirements for entry
The top five dogs in each
Willie breed (based on breed points
earned in AKC conformation
showing through October
JJ 31 of the preceding year),
as well as the Best of Breed
winner from each breed's
national specialty show,
receive printed invitations
by mail and are eligible for
early entry. After that entry
deadline passes, other dogs
with at least one "major win"
may enter, up to a cut-off
entry total of 2800 dogs.
