PHOTOS: See highlights from the final drizzly day of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

NEW YORK (TND) — On Wednesday evening, the skies in Tarrytown, New York finally opened up. The persistent mist that had set the mood since morning turned into a heavier shower that further chilled the air of an already uncharacteristically cold late June day.

But inside the tent at the 146th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, nothing could rain on Trumpet the bloodhound's parade.

Out of 211 breeds and thousands of hopeful dogs, 4-year-old Trumpet alone achieved the top honors of being named Best in Show, marking the first time in the prestigious dog show's history that a bloodhound walked away with the coveted prize. A French bulldog named Winston was named runner-up with the title of Reserve Best in Show (he would take over if Trumpet was somehow disqualified). The other finalists included a Maltese, an English setter, a Samoyed, a German shepherd and a Lakeland terrier.

Winning the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is an indication that the top dog most closely embodies the standards of its breed. For Trumpet, that means traits like a noble expression "characterized by solemnity, wisdom and power;" a surplus of loose, thick skin creating ridges and folds; particularly long ears with a soft texture; deeply sunken eyes ranging in color from hazel to yellow; and an affectionate disposition.

And although Trumpet's handler, co-owner, and breederHeather Helmer described the bloodhound breed as an "underdog" in post-win interviews, Trumpet definitely comes from illustrious genes — his father, Nathan, won Best in Show at the 2014 National Dog Show and was the champion of the hound group in the Westminster Dog Show that same year, ultimately losing to a wire fox terrier.

Typically, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is held indoors at Pier 94 and Madison Square Garden in New York City, but for the second year in a row, the sporting event was moved north to the Lyndhurst Estate in response to coronavirus-related safety concerns. Of course, a primarily outdoor event, though safer during a deadly pandemic, will always be at the mercy of Mother Nature, and she came through on her promise of rain after a threateningly cloudy but mostly dry Tuesday.

Wednesday's undesirable weather did little, however, to dampen spirits throughout the entirety of the judging procedures. Dozens of easygoing golden retrievers continued to wag their tails mid-drizzle during an extended process of narrowing down such a long list of competitors to a single representative, while pointers looking up toward the clouds appeared to enjoy the feeling of the mild spray on their splotchy faces. Sprinkles, a Clumber spaniel named not for the weather but for the sugary dessert topping, sheltered under the grooming tent while contentedly gnawing on a doughnut chew toy.

Unfortunately, there's only room for one dog at the very top, but those that didn't win Best in Show will still walk away with the invaluable experience of competing in what's commonly referred to as "the Super Bowl of dog shows" in the United States.

And for many who return to the show time and time again, there's always next year. So, if you find your favorite in the photo gallery, don't give up hope — keep cheering them on all the way into 2023.