NEW YORK

by Mary Marshal

The 147th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, presented by Pro Plan, will have a new location this year. The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows—Corona Park in Queens, New York City, will be the new site for the prestigious event to be held on May 8-9, 2023. The Westminster Kennel Club Show, which is the second oldest continuously held sporting event after the Kentucky Derby, is the centerpiece of Westminster week. The 10th anniversary of the popular Masters Agility Championship will also be showcased.

America’s Dog Show, as Westminster is affectionately known,willbethepremiereventthatattractsthousands ofpurebreddogs,theirowners,andhandlersfromacross the country and the world to compete for championship titles. In addition to the Masters Agility Championship and the Masters Obedience Championship, the schedule encompasses over 200 breed competitions, seven group competitions, Junior Showmanship, and the crowning of the Best in Show title on the final night of the event to be held in the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“As we march towards our 150th Anniversary in 2026, the Club is excited to bring the dog show to a venue that has always celebrated world-class athletes, and these champion dogs are no exception,” said Westminster

Kennel Club President, Darrell W. Crate. “The sprawling complex will give spectators a truly memorable experience as they meet thousands of purpose-bred dogs that each have a rich history and background.”

The Westminster Kennel Club, inaugurated in 1877, has a rich and storied legacy as the oldest organization dedicated to the sport of purebred dogs. The show has been televised since 1948 and holds the title as the longest nationally televised dog show in the history of the sport. The mission of the Club from its humble beginnings has always been to celebrate and promote responsible dog ownership, breed preservation, education, and to advocate the continued legacy of the purebred dog. Programs are also held to introduce new owners to the right breed selection for their family and lifestyles.

The historical significance of the Westminster Kennel Club and the annual dog show as an American icon has withstood the test of time. It has grown to exponential proportions as America’s Dog Show completely upon its own merit.

The club was formed in 1876 at the Westminster Hotel bar in Manhattan as a meeting place for a group of wealthy sportsmen who met there regularly to regale their hunting stories. They formed a kennel club and named it after the Westminster Hotel. The newly formed Westminster Breeding Association aided in creating a dog show in Philadelphia to celebrate the centennial of America. The show was an overwhelming success, and the group decided to change their name to the Westminster Kennel Club which was incorporated in 1877.

In 1877, the First Annual New York Bench Show of Dogs, sponsored by the Westminster Kennel Club, held its inaugural show at the Hippodrome at Gilmore’s Garden in New York City, drawing an amazing entry of 1,201 dogs. The show was extended to four days due to the overwhelming number of patrons.

Fun facts of historical proportions include that the annual dog show has overcome the Great Depression, two World Wars, multiple power outages, historic snowstorms, the Great Recession, and two worldwide pandemics. The annual dog show pre-dates the invention of the automobile, the refrigerator, and the light bulb. It was well in existence long before the final completion of the Brooklyn Bridge (1883) and the original Yankee Stadium. The dog show has outlasted three previous versions of Madison Square Garden. It is one of only four events to be held in all four “Gardens.”

Spectators are at the forefront of this annual event that provides a chance to meet and greet outstanding canine representatives of every breed. Family friendly events are held throughout Westminster Week, and tickets to the event will be available in early 2023.

“Accessibility, education, and connection are at the core of this event. Spectators are always surprised that they get to meet and pet these exceptional dogs, but the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show was created to engage with the public. We encourage people to come and learn about dog breeds from the owners, handlers, and preservation breeders. For over a century, this celebration of dogs has thrilled people, and our 2023 events will continue that tradition,” says Westminster Director of Communications Gail Miller Bisher. The Billie Jean King National Tennis center, opened in 1978, is the host for the US Open, one of four Grand Slam Tournaments in professional tennis. The center was originally called the USTA National Tennis Center but was renamed for tennis legend Billie Jean King in 2006.

In addition to the Arthur Ashe Stadium the facility consists of 22 outdoor and indoor courts. The stadium is the largest tennis stadium in the world and can hold over 23,000 spectators. The Billie Jean King National Tennis Center also holds the New York Open and WTA Tour Championships. Many programs and events are offered at the facility for the local community including youth tennis programs and varied events throughout the year.