‘Bow-Z’ wows crowd at bulldog pageant for Drake Relays

‘Bow-Z’ wows crowd at bulldog pageant for Drake Relays

Published Apr. 22, 2018 5:01 p.m. ET

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) A 2-year-old pup once destined to be euthanized was crowned the winner of Sunday's ''Beautiful Bulldog Contest'' at Drake University.

The 39th annual tongue-in-cheek pageant for English bulldogs, Drake's mascot, is the unofficial start to this week's Drake Relays track meet.

This year's champion, ''Bow-Z,'' hails from nearby Pella, Iowa. She was set to be put down as a puppy because of various physical ailments but was re-routed to a no-kill shelter instead.

Bow-Z beat a field of 40 slobbering bulldogs - most of which were decked out in outlandish costumes - with names like Rocky, Tucker and Beau.

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The Drake Relays being in earnest on Thursday and wrap up on Saturday.

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