INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana State Fairgrounds West Pavilion has literally gone to the dogs.
Thousands of dogs from across the country arrived in Indianapolis for the Indy Winter Classic. The event will help select contestants for the much larger Westminster Dog Show.
"This event is 101 years old," said Rick Crouch of the Hoosier Kennel Club, which organizes the Indy Winter Classic. "Next to the 500, we're probably one of the oldest events in Indiana."
The Hoosier Kennel Club said more than 9,000 dogs representing about 200 breeds will participate in the Indy Winter Classic. The event started Wednesday and will last through the weekend.
That roster includes John Fabelo of Cincinnati and his English setter, Mango.
"Indy is a great show, we've been coming here for many years," Fabelo said. "The quality of this building and the light makes it fun to be in here. You have natural light, you don't have the fluorescent lights flickering. It's just a good building to be in."
Heidi Bell brought her poodles from Alberta, Canada for the competition.
"When I told my husband I'd like to do a dog show in Indianapolis, he said, 'What?'" Bell said. "It's obviously bigger than a lot of the shows in Canada."
Crouch said the Indianapolis show has enough prestige to compete for a major award from the American Kennel Club.
"We're nominated for the top cluster of the year," Crouch said. "There's another large show going on right now in Atlanta, Georgia. We had people from Atlanta who came here instead of going to their local show."
The Indy Winter Classic is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through the weekend, with hours extended to 7 p.m. on Saturday. It will cost you $10 to park at the fairgrounds.
-
Rescue dog Osito steals hearts at the World Cup, one bike ride at a time
Osito, a rescue poodle mix, has become an unlikely sensation after arriving at Mexico’s opening match perched on the back of a cargo bicycle, dressed in a Mexico jersey, sunglasses and a cap.
Fever give up season-high 113 points in loss to Dream
It felt like not that long ago the Fever were on a four-game winning streak. That has quickly changed, though, thanks to the Atlanta Dream.
IMPD finds13-year-old girl missing from Indy's east side safe
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department was seeking the public's help in finding a missing 13-year-old girl last seen with an "unknown male" on Friday afternoon.
Overnight shootings injure two in Indianapolis
Indianapolis police say two people were shot and injured, one critically, after two shootings in downtown Indy and on Indy's west side.
