September 2, 2009

• Sled Dog Racing Season

  

  No, it hasn’t snowed here yet.  It’s not even freezing at night now, but mushers, dog teams, and fans like me are thinking about and preparing for the 2010 racing season.  There will be a few dryland races later this year, and the Gin Gin 200 is scheduled for December 31, ’09, but most of the season’s races, and all of the major races, will occur in the new year.

  One new race has been announced, hosted by four-time Iditarod Champion Jeff King:  the Denali Doubles Invitational Sled Dog Race.  Rules are different from any sled dog race I’ve heard of.  This might be a first.

  20 team limit.  Two mushers per ‘team’ (Tandem sleds, Gee pole sled, Sled and skier) 16 dogs max.  To be eligible, 1 musher of each team must have placed in the top 5, or received Humanitarian award or have been awarded Rookie of the year in any dogsled race prior to sign up.  Entries accepted after 10 am November 1st 2009 by fax or mail.  Rules published on-line by Oct.1st.
  264 miles.

  The date of the race places it during the run of the Yukon Quest, which will exclude (intentionally?) some of the top teams in the sport.

  I intend to blog about the dog racing season throughout, as usual.  Just watch (or watch out) for the parking sign.
  

  • 3:04 pm
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