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members of the Gordon Setter Club and looked in vain for Robin in the old stud books at the AKC Library. No Belmont Setter paintings or photos are known to exist, just several of his Fox Terriers.

Shortly afterannouncing the breed and significance of the mysterious dead dog at Belmont Lake, I was counting Belmont’s WKC entries again, when I saw an identical “Robin” as an “Imported English Setter Dog.” Every word (owner,

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Sorry, I can’t let “sleeping dogs lie.” The lone tombstone in front of the LI State Parks Commission headquartersatBelmont Lake reads: “In Memory O f My Faithful Dog Robin- Mar. 25, 1879.” Two years ago, I was thrilled to discover that Robin was the name of a dog that August Belmont Jr. entered t w i c e

as a Gordon Setter in the first (1877)Westminster Kennel Club (WKC) Dog Show. At the time, I didn’t notice that Robin had a disturbing “dual identity’’ It seems during that landmark event Belmont also slipped him into the ring as an incognito English Setter.

To revisit my original “Robin” story online see Beacon Archives, “Pets” 2/7/08 which cites evidence that at one time there was a fenced Belmont family pet cemetery but the rest of the headstones must have been moved when the mansion was razed in 1935 and the new park driveway paved.Only Robin’s marker remains. •

My quest to pinpoint the Babylon grave of Westminster’s iconic Pointer, Sensation, near Southards Pond has given me a wealth of historical resources, including a facsimile copy of the first WKC show catalogue from Westminster’s historian, Mr. Stifel. A 19th Century spectator inked results in the margins. Since then Robin’s background has become a parallel pursuit whereas this precious book notes a “Robin” under “Native or Imported Gordon Setter Dogs” (meaning male) and under Special Prize #1 for the “Best Setter” Both times, the listing using Belmont’s NYC address, reads:

“A. Belmont Jr., 19 Nassau st. NYROBIN, bl. and tan, 8 years, by Royal, put of Rackett

$500.”It’s quite plausible this Gordon Setter is the same Robin

who died two years later at age ten. The 1,201 dog entrants in the 1877 WKC catalog are described as “not for sale” or at prices ranging from $50 to $10,000. Sensation, the famous Pointer was there too not for competition, not for sale: just for exhibition by the WKC. He was the celebrity draw to the four-day event at the Hippodrome, the first Madison Square Garden. WKC put a $35 stud fee ad for Sensation at the end of the catalogue.

Back to Robin-Belmont also entered two Fox Terriers (his signature breed); Robin’s son “Duke” in the same Breed Class as Pop and this pup’s Mom “Maud” as a 15- year-old Gordon Setter bitch which further confirmed Robin’s breed because the whole family was in the show. Robin came in second, beating sonny “Duke.”

“Maud” is also mentioned in D. Black’s The King o f Fifth Avenue, a 1981 biography of Belmont Sr. when Dad instructs Junior to import a new Gordon brood bitch from Europe aboard the Cunard line because “Maud” was gelling old. Seeking more breed proof, I spoke to

address, age, pedigree, price) was the same except now the color was “black, tan and white frill” At first, I thought it was a misprint

Gordons are solid black 8c tan, a little white frill is permitted, but not desirable; while English Setters are mainly white with an intermingling of colored flecking. Was Robin, lying below this N. Babylon tombstone, the samedog entered under two differentbreedsatthis historic competition? ‘Twas unlikely Belmont would give two dogs from an imported litter the same call name. Hence, I believe “Robin” had some white on him, and Belmont, a shrewd businessman, heir to the renowned horse racing stable, future Major during WWI, was merely a wealthy, gambling 24-year-old gent, maximizing his options.

Did Belmont cheat by double-dipping Robin? Not really. In 1877 dog show rules were inconsistent; the few existing stud books lacked pedigree registration numbers; and the lines between breeds were still a bit blurred. Besides separating Setters into Gordon, English or Irish in early WKC shows, there were additional classes for black 8c tan plus black, tan 8c white Setters. In retrospect this seems confusing.

Belmont redeemed himself. Later he was instrumental in standardizing the rules. The American Kennel Club (AKC) wasn’t established until 1884 when, buoyed by WKC, 12 dog club delegates met to start

a regulatory body to oversee benched shows and field trials. Belmont became AKC president in 1888, the same year the AKC required that every dog in a sanctioned show be registered in the AKC stud book at 50<t each. He remained a powerful AKC president for 26 years. The official magazine, “The AKC Gazette”, guaranteed by Belmont’s financial backing, still publishes today.

While “most-of-the-time Gordon Setter”, Robin, died five years before there were any AKC rules, nine years before registration numbers had to be in the catalogue, 13 years before his breed was officially recognized in the US, English Setters still got the last laugh at Belmont’s two- timer strategy. “Paris” an English Setter from Ontario was chosen over Robin for that “Best Setter” Special Prize #1, a silver Tiffany cup.

Speaking of Westminster week: The Garden Specialty Assoc, (www.gsa.com) a duster of 30+ shows preceding WKC will be held at the Nassau Coliseum from Feb. 11- 14. Last Hope Animal Rescue is honored to have a table in the lobby. Then the 134th Westminster Kennel Club Show will be at MSG on Feb.15-16. Don’t miss it

For Adoption at Babylon Town Shelter (643-9270) Lamar St W. Babylon: “Star” Cage 37, part of the patient Pit mix collection, loves playing with toys. She entered the shelter last March after giving birth. Friendly “Tricia” a Shepherd/ Lab pup in Cage 27 is a more recent shelter arrival.

Male: “Teddy” Retriever Cage 6; “Bradley” Pit mix Cage 1; Houndmix Cage 13.

Female: “Bastet” exotic lobby kitten; “Roxy” Cage 25, “Ginger” Cage 39 -also veteran Pits.

•Jewelry Flea Market to benefit Last Hope’s spedal needs dogs at Basic Pet Care 642 Rt.109. Lindenhurst on Sat. Feb. 6 from 10 am to 2 pm. Call 957-0023.

Shown, right, 1 neta ~

Shepherd/Lab

patient Pit

Pets for AdoptionShown, left,1S t a r '

POLICE BLOTTERThe Suffolk County Police Department’s Third

Precinct and other local fire and law enforcement agencies reported the following incidents this week. For additional police information, see the Beacons main section newspaper, which is available at newsstands and by subscription. To subscribe, call (631) 587-5612 or go to www.babylonbeacon.com to order on line. BURGLARY

Central Islip: The audio alarm at a Gregory Lane hom e alerted police Jan. 18 to a 1 a.m. break-in in progress. The thief fled before police arrived.

North Bay Shore: At 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 14, police received a report that someone had broken into a Spur Drive N orth hom e and had taken various items,

Brentwood: A vacant business on Rodeo Drive was broken into sometime prior to 4 p.m., Jan. 12. Several undisclosed items were taken,GRAND LARCENY

East Islip: An undisclosed am ount o f copper wqs taken Jan. 17 from a locked fenced yard on Sunrise Highway The theft took place sometime before 2 a.m.

Bay Shore: Someone drove off in a 1992 Honda Civic Jan. 18. Police were notified at 1 a.m.

Central Islip: A 1993 Grand Voyager parked on Wilson Boulevard was stolen during the early m orning hours o f Jan. 15.CRIMINAL MISCHIEF

Bay Shore: At about 3:40 a.m., Jan. 15, someone smashed the front door glass at a West Main Street store.

•A car on W isconsin Avenue was vandalized shortly before 2:30 p.m., Jan. 15.

Brentwood: On Jan. 12, at about 10:30 p.m., a car parked on Chapel Hill Drive was vandalized. The following night a second car on that same street was found damaged.

Central Islip: Someone broke a window of a house on Suffolk Avenue. The incident occurred at about 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 15.ARRESTS

DWI: The following persons have been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated or impaired: Malik Karasekreter, 545 Connetquot Ave., Islip Terrace; Ernst Lespinasse, 49 Columbus Ave., Brentwood; Jaime Lopez, 980 Ferndale Blvd., Bay Shore; Antonio Minier, 197 Westwood Dr., Brentwood; Marlon Sandoval, 9 Storey Ave., Central Islip; Glenn Ryan, 3 Old Post La., St James; Jose Rivera, 382 New Jersey Ave., Bay Shore;

Grand Larceny: Robert Effinger, 72 Rose PL, Selden; Jonelle Fazio, 284 West Shore Dr., Massapequa; Giovanna Llewellyn, 16 Pine Aire Dr., Bay Shore; Steven Sokolowski, 38 Sleepy La., Hicksville.

The charges against those arrested are allegations and the cases are still pending in the courts. Individuals charged and whose names appear ;in this column may submit documentation to us at a later date that the charges have been dismissed or that they have been found innocent and we will include.that information in this space in a timely manner.