Beagle looks to beat long odds

By Rob Miech

Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008 | 6:30 p.m.

If there is any justice in the world, Uno will walk away -- on all four paws -- from Madison Square Garden a champion tonight.

Uno the beagle has attracted a hail of attention for his breed since Monday, when he won the hound division in the annual Westminster Kennel Club competition.

It was the first time a beagle took the group since 1939.

How’d he do it? He was just himself, said Jon Woodring, one of Uno’s owners. He’s relaxed. He feels no stress. He’s a beagle!

For the second consecutive year, Wynn Las Vegas race and sports book director John Avello posted odds on the Best in Show race at Westminster.

For entertainment purposes only, of course.

Of the seven divisions, the hound was last at 20-1. The English Springer Spaniel was the favorite breed, out of 165, to win the crown at 25-1. The

beagle was way down the chart, at 400-1.

Not a big deal? A late-afternoon text came from a pal in Southern California who crowed that Uno surely must be a descendent of his beloved, and late, TJ

Raider.

A beagle has never won Best in Show at Westminster, so Uno might be able to do some crowing, or baying, of his own.

And common dogs everywhere can yelp for Uno.