Page 77 - Chow LIfe - 2019 Summer

recommend the Signature Sliders at Pat LaFrieda’s I think it’s foolish to walk into a group ring at
Meat Purveyors. Best burger I’ve ever had ever! Just Westminster with great expectations because odds
don’t try to get food after you’ve set up at your bench are you will be disappointed. I’ve spoken with
-- you’ll play hell trying to return through the crowd, professionals who’ve shown there many times and
a human traffic jam like I’ve never experienced. never made the cut, much less received a placement.
But you must still always play to win because you
We were asked by the MSG’s promotion staff to never know what the judge will do. Westminster has
always been a place where anything can happen. If
allow “Neo” to be photographed for future event the stars align and your dog shows well, it just may
advertising. Upon arriving at the studio set, we happen to you!
met up with “Parker”, a Puli from Wisconsin, also
taking part, whose owner and handler are friends
of mine. The shoot didn’t take long, “Neo” was a Chows haven’t received much attention in the group
good sport about it, and who knows, you might see at Westminster in recent years. To be called out for
him or Parker on a Times Square billboard next year the short list was exciting enough. To stand behind
advertising the show! 2018’s top two Non-sporting dogs as we received
our third place rosette was overwhelming. “Neo”,
The TV people seem to be in charge of the GCHB Flamingstar The Lion King, the first Chow
to place at Westminster in 15 years; he showed so
marshalling and timing of the groups. For Non- perfectly, never put a foot wrong, and he even beat
Sporting, we were summoned to gather at the ring the Poodles. We are so proud of him!
entrance at a particular time, but after waiting a good
while, that time was pushed back still further. Like
race horses at the gate, the nerves of many handlers Tuesday was, for us, a time to relax after the events of
were raw by this time and tension was high. Finally the day before. The show takes a lot out of you. We
the signal is given and off we go in alphabetical order. also got wet sloppy snow on Tuesday, enough that
WKC released that day’s dogs from benching early.
Tina and I took an Uber to the Garden for the groups
and BIS that night. By the way, if I ever offer you
free Garden tickets, accept them and go to the show.
I have a generous friend who’s had other obligations
for the last couple years but doesn’t want to lose her
seats, and has chosen me to give her tickets to. If
I can’t use them myself, I find nice people to share
them with. They’re the sort of seats that cause the
MSG ushers to raise their eyebrows when they see
your tickets, so now you know why you should take
them!

I wish the Junior Showmanship finals were televised
as well as the color guards and the performances of
“Neo” Enters Group Ring the national anthem that begin the nights’ groups.
And I do miss the spotlights at the start of Best
in Show. It appears that Fox did away with them.
What is like to enter the group ring at Westminster? Westminster wouldn’t be herself without some
Amazing, awesome, and incredible! The announcer upsets, surprises, and controversy, and this year was
says “May we have the Non-Sporting Group, please?”, no exception. The owners of the Schipperke that
the crowd roars, and you step from the quiet, darkish made history becoming the first of his breed to win
tunnel where you’ve been waiting into this huge the Non-Sporting group withdrew the dog from BIS
dazzling expanse of lights and green, with cameras competition because of a past business relationship
and flashes everywhere. What a feeling! I am with the BIS judge. The long haired Dachshund
blessed, or cursed depending, to show a dog that’s put on a show worthy of BIS but wasn’t chosen for
very smart and remembers things very well. “Neo” either of the big ribbons resulting in what might be
had done this once before and although it’d been a a Westminster first -- booing from the crowd, which
few years, he knew exactly where he was and what he was embarrassing for true dog people and insulting
was supposed to do. He came into the ring with such to a judge of Peter Green’s stature. The Wire
attitude that it brought tears to my eyes. Fox and the Havanese were his choices for BIS

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