US Open goes to the dogs for the 2024 Westminster Kennel Club dog show

For three days this week, the home of the US Open went to the dogs, as the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center welcomed the 148th edition of the annual Westminster Kennel Club dog show.

While the world's best tennis players chase tennis balls around the courts at Flushing Meadows for three weeks every summer, more than 2,500 distinguished pups from around the United States strutted their stuff for the right to be crowned Best in Show. Dogs were narrowed down first through best of breed competitions, and then group rounds, and the seven winners of each group went head-to-head on Tuesday night in the hopes of earning the coveted top prize.

The court surface of Arthur Ashe Stadium was transformed into the show's main stage, both for the actual show and its ancillary events, which include an agility competition, an obdience championship, and dog sport demostrations in things like "herding" and "scent tracking." There is also a junior championship, where children 9-18 years of age are judged on their handling skills to promote sportsmanship, proper training and care of dogs among youngsters, preparing them for responsible dog ownership.

In the end, a 3-year-old black miniature poodle named Sage from Houston, Texas was crowned the overall champion, as the fourth of her breed to win the contest, and the first female dog in four years to take the crown. Mercedes the German Shepherd finished as the runner-up.

Sage sent her handler, 65-year-old Kaz Hosaka, into retirement with the victory, as he confirmed it was his last show after 45 years in the ring. He also confirmed that Sage will be joining him in retirement.

“I’ve been here for 45 years in America,” an emotional Hosaka said afterwards, per *The Guardian*. “I’ve been lucky. Did a lot, especially at Westminster. This is my seventh group win for poodles. That’s more than I could ask for. This is my perfect end. I cannot ask for more than this.”

Scroll on to see more of Baseline's favorite photos from the competition.