WESTMINSTER 2018 Joseph Neil McGinnis III Their 142nd, my 39th, and always somebody or something’s First
It’s not ego or an inflated idea of my role at this show that led me to run a photo with the iconic WKC logo. It is the enor- mous pride I feel in our sport and this august body’s star-studded
event, recognized around the Globe and dedicated to the dogs we love so much. That the dogs are the stars is without ques- tion; that the show is one-of-a- kind cannot be disputed.
Photo: Jacquelyn Fogel
Few judging panels are as wildly anticipated as WKC’s; as contracted judges are sworn to secrecy, who’s judging what remains a source of constant con- jecture up until confirmed. (And then of course the next topic is who’s going to win , given who’s giving out the ribbons. The prediction’s often wrong but it’s great fun while it lasts.). And of course receiving an envelope from Westminster containing an invitation to judge remains a highlight of a person’s life from that day forward. But it’s not until a dog’s eligibility to attend is in hand that things get into high gear. I’m from New York City. Although I rank it the world’s best, it’s not an easy town in which to get things done. Anyone who’s ever planned a dinner party in Manhattan knows how problematic it can be. Imagine pulling off this enormous, multi-faceted en- terprise and then putting it out there on live TV. Those who are faint of heart would just plain faint. I myself find it invigorating. (Of course, I’m not the one who actually has to do it). The team at WKC is, in a word, incredible. >
Those of us fortunate to have attended this show through its various iterations have amazing memories of the differences then and now, and the similarities, too. We lament the traits that we once held dear, and we welome the improvements that we see non-stop. Tech- nology lends a hand in this constant evolutionary process; economics must certainly play a major role. And of course everybody and his brother has a suggestion for Westminster’s next “improvement.” I don’t know; like trying to out-cook a dog-food company that’s spent mil- lions on recipe development, second-guessing WKC seems fruitless at best. This is a huge, powerful organi- zation with an unmatched history and a talent pool so deep it boggles the mind. To my mind, things are just fine even if I’m unabashedly prejudiced in its favor. I just love all of it. It’s hard to write something new about a show so microscopically examined, especially in the dog press. As a proud member of that group for forty years, I feel a responsibility to provide an overview, from its annual inception to the icing on the top.
Benching, Pier 94
Photos by the editor
Rings, Pier 92
166 • S how S ight M agazine , M arch 2018
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