Toronto resident Miss Sandra M. Lex will be among the judges at the 147th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York this spring.

The iconic dog show takes place the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis centre in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, New York City. It is the second longest running sporting event in the United States next to the Kentucky Derby.

Lex is slated to judge Affenpinschers, Biewer Terriers, Brussels Griffons, Japanese Chin, Maltese, Silky Terriers, Toy Manchester Terriers and Yorkshire Terriers during her first judging assignment at Westminster. The Best of Breed winners she selects will advance to the Toy Group evening competition on Monday, May 8.

It was with the rare Affenpinschers breed that Lex got her start in dog shows back in 1975. Her first Affenpinscher was the #2 ranked toy dog in Canada. And since then has established herself as a force in dog shows for the past few decades.

Thousands of dogs representing more than 100 breeds will compete.

As an active Westminster club member, Lex has held several positions in all-breed and judge clubs, including President, Secretary, Show Secretary, and this year’s Show Chair for the Affenpinscher National in Syracuse, NY. She is approved to judge Sporting Toy and Non-Sporting Groups, several Terrier breeds, Junior Showmanship, and Best in Show.

The Christopher Guest mockumentary film Best in Show starring Toronto’s Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara spoofed the event.

FOX will broadcast the entire three-day competition including the final day on May 9 when one lucky doggo will be crowned Best in Show.

For the schedule of events click here. For television coverage click here. Live streaming of daytime events and dog show results can be found at westminsterkennelclub.org.