The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is one of the most anticipated and prestigious events in the dog-breeding world and the event goes live on Monday night from New York City.
The event lasts for two days and the first night features a number of groups to go, starting with the Hound, Toy, Non Sporting and Herding breeds, who will be judged during the day and coverage will go live on CNBC from 8pm-11pm ET. On Monday night, the Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding Groups will be named, followed by the Junior Showmanship Finals, Sporting, Working and Terrier Groups and Best In Show on Tuesday night.
This year the event has a record number of participants from all over the country as well as internationally, including 187 different breeds, with the highest number coming from the Golden Retrievers. Last year's winner was Palacegarden Malachy (aka: "Malachy"), a Pekingese.
One dog in particular has stood out in the early competition, a 5-year-old yellow Labrador retriever named Mitch, who is a rookie at the event. He also happened to be the dog of Yankees President Randy Levine, who co-owns the canine.
"He's like Derek Jeter. Very calm," Levine said to the Associated Press.
Levine said to the AP that Mitch would be showing on Tuesday and that even though it's the same week as pitchers and catchers reporting, he is happy to be at the event.
"I don't think Randy would be half as excited if it was the World Series," fellow co-owner and breeder Tom Flaherty said.
Mitch is not the first Yankees dog to grace the event, as Lou Gehrig brought his German shepherd to Madison Square Garden, while pitcher Mike Mussina had his Irish setter. Mitch it set with a Yankees dog collar and according to the AP, the team has never had anyone named Mitch play for the team.
"Mitch is one of the kindest dogs ever. A very kind nature, a very kind face," said Flaherty, of Mount Bethel, Pa. "He has never met anyone or any animal he didn't like."
The event has 2,721 entries in 187 breeds and varieties, including two new additions from last year with the treeing Walker coonhound and the Russell terrier. The most entries this year geography wise are from New York for the third straight year in a row followed by California and New Jersey.
One dog that made the final ring last year will be competing again, including a Doberman named Veni Vidi Vici. The herding, toy, nonsporting and hound group winners will officially be chosen Monday night on CNBC. Westminster has been televised since 1948 and is the highest-rated dog program on the waves.
On Tuesday the rest of the groups will finish up, with Michael Dougherty making his pick and runner-up around 11 pm on USA Network. The organization will also be providing live coverage of all breed judging during the day through their website. The judges this year come from 18 different states and three foreign countries with 43 members on the panel.
The event was memorably spoofed and parodied in the film "Best In Show", which was directed by actor and writer Christopher Guest in a mockumentary style that followed a number of contestants at a similar type show called the "Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show."
CLICK HERE for the official Westminster Live Stream or CLICK HERE for the CNBC streaming page. For a FULL List of ALL dogs competing and their breeds, CLICK HERE.
