Buddy¹ was crowed the America's most beautiful bulldog
 
Buddy is a sleeping beauty: Reddish brown, he's usually asleep on his back, snoring loudly with his large tongue lolling out.

He was wide-awake Monday, though, when he was crowned winner of a "Beautiful Bulldog" contest.

"He doesn't have a good stamina² to him ... he's been laying around all winter," said George DuBois from Ankeny, Iowa, who owns Buddy with his wife, Cindy. "Just in the last 10, 15 days we've done some walking. We've been getting in shape for this."

Buddy was among 50 bulldogs from mostly Midwestern states who came to compete. The contest was among events leading up to the Drake Relays, one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious³ track and field competitions.

"I'm so excited. I didn't think he had what it took to get it," said Cindy DuBois.

Buddy competed unadorned, unlike many of his rivals. They dressed up as fairy princesses, rock stars, cheerleaders, bumblebees and even Snow White and Mr. T.

Bella Star of Elmwood, Ill., had her nails painted red and wore a Hawaiian lei, pink bikini top and a grass skirt. The skirt slipped off as she strutted⁴ down the "dogwalk" before the judges.

Buddy panted heavily as he sat on his throne, getting used to his new crown and cape⁵ as photographers snapped his picture. On Saturday, he'll ride in a golf cart at Drake Stadium before about 18,000 spectators.

"I don't think he really wants attention all that much," said George DuBois. "He's just a rascal⁶."

 
一身红棕毛的巴迪可是个名副其实的“睡美人”：他总是仰面朝天，拖着大舌头，呼呼大睡。

但周一那天他很清醒，因为他夺得了“最靓斗牛犬选美大赛”的冠军。

巴迪是来自艾奥瓦州安科尼市的乔治•杜波伊斯和妻子辛蒂的爱犬。乔治说：“巴迪体力不好，整个冬天他几乎都在躺着。直到比赛前10天到15天，我们才带他出去遛了遛，主要是为比赛做准备。”

今年的选美比赛共有50只斗牛犬参加，其中大多数来自美国中西部地区。该比赛拉开了德雷克大学接力赛的序幕，德雷克大学接力赛是美国最古老、最具名望的田径赛事之一。

辛蒂说：“我太激动了。没想到他能拿冠军。”

参赛的斗牛犬们有的打扮得像公主、有的像摇滚明星、有的像拉拉队队长、大黄蜂，有的甚至打扮成了白雪公主和Mr.T。而与其它参赛选手不同的是，巴迪几乎“未施粉黛”。

来自伊利诺伊州艾尔姆伍德市的参赛选手贝拉•斯塔尔涂着红指甲、头戴夏威夷花环，身穿粉色比基尼内衣和草裙。不过她在裁判面前秀“狗步”时，草裙不慎滑落。

巴迪气喘吁吁地坐在冠军宝座上，头戴王冠、身穿披风，从容不迫地面对摄影师的镜头。他将于本周六乘坐一辆高尔夫球车进入德雷克体育馆，与约18000名观众见面。

乔治说：“他肯定不愿受到这么多关注。他只不过是个淘气鬼。”

Vocabulary: 

on one's back:仰卧