Last night, the world’s most renowned and esteemed dog exhibition, the 148th Westminster Dog exhibition, took place. Only one dog could take home the coveted title of “Best in Show,” despite the fact that around 3,000 dogs participated in the competition.

That distinction was given to Sage, a stunning black Miniature Poodle who delighted judges with her fluffy, well-groomed coat.

Sage wins Best in Show.According to the New York Times, Kaz Hosaka, who is well-known for his skillful poodle grooming, is the owner of the 4-year-old Sage, whose full name is GCHG Ch Surrey Sage.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 14: On May 14, 2024, in Queens, New York, dog handler Kaz Hosaka and Sage, the winners of Best in Show and Non-Sporting Group, pose during the 148th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show – Best in Show at Arthur Ashe Stadium. (Photo for Westminster Kennel Club by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)As an underdog going into the competition, Sage was ranked fourth among non-sporting dogs and 39th overall among show dogs. However, she ultimately prevailed and received the esteemed top honor.

CNN reports that Sage is the fourth Miniature Poodle to win Best in Show, including her great-grandmother Spice, who took home the award in 2002. She is also the first female to win Best in Show since 2020.NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 13: Non-Sporting Group Winner Sage competes in the 148th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show – Show Night at Arthur Ashe Stadium on May 13, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images for Westminster Kennel Club)

It’s also the 11th time a poodle of any size has won Best in Show, according to the Times.

The win was extra special for Hosaka, who is retiring from the Westminster competition after 45 years. Thanks to Sage, he’s going out on top.

“Today’s the day — my last show,” Hosaka said, per NBC News. “I’m proud of this dog.”Westminster Dog Show

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is the best-known dog show in the world and one of the longest-running sporting events in the United States, behind only the Kentucky Derby: the first even took place in 1877. It has been called the “Super Bowl” of the dog show world.

Competitors are split into seven groups: Hound, Toy, Terrier, Herding, Working, Sporting, and Non-Sporting. The dogs are evaluated by judges, essentially judging them on how well they represent the ideal standard of their breed, from specific physical characteristics to their agility and temperament.NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 14: Dog handler Kaz Hosaka and Sage, Best in Show and Non-Sporting Group winner pose during the 148th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show – Best In Show at Arthur Ashe Stadium on May 14, 2024 in Queens, New York. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Westminster Kennel Club )

The dogs deemed Best in Breed go on to compete in Best in Group, and the winners from each group then compete for Best in Show.

Many of the most popular dog breeds have surprisingly never taken home Best in Show — including the Labrador retriever, the golden retriever, the dachshund and the French Bulldog.

Conversely, terriers have done very well at the competition, with the Wire Fox Terrier winning a record 15 times and the Scottish Terrier right behind with 8 wins. Terriers also have the most wins by group.

Mixed-breed dog triumphs

While the Westminster only allows purebred, AKC-registered dogs to compete for the top prizes, mixed-breed dogs have been allowed to compete in the agility competition since 2014, where they are called “All-American” dogs.

And this year, one of those dogs made history.

A 6-year-old border collie-papillon mix named Nimble became the first mixed-breed dog to win the Westminster Kennel Club’s Masters Agility Championship, beating out 350 competitors and finishing the race in just 28.76 seconds.