Already assured a place in the best-of-seven final ring at America's premier dog competition were an American foxhound, an affenpinscher, an old English sheepdog and a bichon frise.

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Also in the best-of-seven final ring were a German wirehaired pointer ranked as the nation's No. 1 show dog, an American foxhound, a Portuguese water dog, a bichon frise and a smooth fox terrier.

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Among the top contenders are a prime Doberman named Veni Vidi Vici that reached the best-of-seven final ring last year, a big-winning wire fox terrier, a German wirehaired pointer ranks as the nation's No. 1 show dog and a prized American foxhound.

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Local resident Gretchen Ramke, 30, said she heard "six or seven" shots ring out about 30ft (9m) from where she stood with a friend.

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The novillero, or novice, may even pay to get into the ring, which varies in status: just seven are deemed top-class and 43 respectable second-class.

ECONOMIST: Spain

Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum star as Officers Schmidt and Jenko, who are sent undercover to infiltrate a drug ring in the high school they graduated from seven years earlier.

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Entering the exhibition's final room, visitors pass through the amphitheater's seven pillars and reach the mausoleum's partially reconstructed ring of massive, decorated stones resting on pillars, within which lies the restored sarcophagus.

WSJ: Shards of a Reputation | Herod the Great | Israel Museum | By Amotz Asa-El