Pekingese wins crown at Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
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A Pekingese named Malachy walks across the floor during the judging of the toy group at the 136th annual Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York. -
A Pekingese named Malachy walks across the floor during the judging of the toy group at the 136th annual Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York.
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NEW YORK -- Champion Palacegarden Malachy, a charming pekingese, bested six other group winners Tuesday night to emerge as top dog at the 136th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden.
The pekingese, owned by Iris Love of New York City, Sandra Middlebrooks of Magnolia Springs, Ala., and David Fitzpatrick of East Berlin, Adams County, and shown by Mr. Fitzpatrick, won out over a German shepherd, Doberman pinscher, Irish setter, Dalmatian, Kerry blue terrier, and a wire-haired dachshund.
He is the first pekingese to win best in show at Westminster since 1990 and only the sixth "peke" -- as the dog is nicknamed -- to win in the history of the show.
"What a wonderful way to end his career," said Mr. Fitzpatrick, who said the 11-pound, 4-year-old toy breed dog will retire from the show ring and spend the rest of his life chasing squirrels in Mr. Fitzpatrick's back yard or playing with his squeaky rat inside.
"He was very relaxed. We kept him quiet all day, trying to save his energy for the ring," he said. "He's a very happy dog. He's an extrovert in the ring."
Malachy was the top toy dog at last year's Westminster and has had 115 best in shows at other dog shows in his career.
When asked if the dog behaved like a cat, because of his quiet and dignified demeanor, Mr. Fitzpatrick replied with a laugh, "No he's not like a cat at all because he's a pekingese."
This year's field at the country's second longest running sporting event after the Kentucky Derby included 2,077 entries representing 185 breeds.
The second day of judging included breed judging for dogs that make up the sporting, terrier and working groups.
The best of breeds went on to compete in the group judging in the evening.
The three Tuesday night group winners joined the group winners from Monday night in the hound, toy, non-sporting and herding groups to be judged for the ultimate title -- best in show.
The second day of the show was abuzz with news about upsets in the competition for best of breed for the black cocker spaniel and wire fox terrier.
The best of breed for the spaniels, Midnight Express, beat out the expected winner, Casablanca's Thrilling Seduction, a dog that had amassed 68 all-breed best in show wins, along with the recently claimed top award at the 57th Annual Show Dogs of the Year Awards.
The top wire fox terrier is Graycottage Santeric Fyrestorm, which beat out the expected winner Steele Your Heart, a dog that was thought to be a contender for best in show.
Outside Madison Square Garden, Dogs Against Romney, a Facebook-based protest group, demonstrated to bring attention to the now-infamous incident in which Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and Republican candidate for president, put his Irish Setter inside a dog crate and strapped it to his vehicle for a 12-hour drive to a family vacation spot.
First Published February 15, 2012 12:44 am
