Yukon Quest article

In an article headlined "Anderson enters the 1000-mile sled dog race for second time," the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner feature writer Matias Saari outlines the racing field for the upcoming 2009 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race, which starts Feb. 14 in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada.

The article focuses on newest entrants Ken Anderson and Jason Mackey, noting:

...Anderson needs to determine a race goal, which requires solving a dilemma: Does he use the same dogs for both 1,000-mile events, in which case he’d hold something in reserve during the Quest, or does he race separate teams and mush more aggressively from Whitehorse to Fairbanks...

Pioneering Breeder Eva "Short" Seeley

There's an interesting article by Matthew Schenker at the blog, The Dog Writer, detailing the life of pioneer Siberian Husky and Alaskan Malamute fancier Eva "Short" Seeley:

Among her numerous achievements, Ms. Seeley forever changed the look of Siberian Huskies, and she was directly responsible for AKC acceptance of the Alaskan Malamute. She owned the first champions in both these breeds, and she founded both national breed clubs. For decades, Seeley was an unofficial gatekeeper of the Siberian Husky and Alaskan Malamute, and her approval was essential for any breeder who wanted to be taken seriously.

Schenker relates the events surrounding the 1925 Great Serum Run, and how Eva Seeley and her husband, Milton, would have followed the tales of Leonhard Seppala and Togo, and Gunnar Kaasen and Balto, as they delivered the serum to halt the diphtheria epidemic. He writes:

Interviewed for a February 3, 1925, New York Times article, Kaasen described how a blizzard made it impossible for him to see either the trail or his dogs. “A gale was blowing from the northwest. I gave Balto, my lead dog, his head and trusted him. He never once faltered. Balto knew the way we were going.” The circuit of racers and dogs completed their historic run in just five days. Normally, this distance took three weeks for sleds carrying mail or supplies into Alaskan mining towns. On February 6, 1925, Senator Clarence Dill of Washington State led the United States Senate in entering the extraordinary facts of the Serum Run into the Congressional record. In his speech, Dill contrasted the Serum run with all previous races, stating, “Men had thought that the limit of speed and endurance had been reached, but a race for sport and money proved to have far less stimulus than this contest in which humanity was the urge and life was the prize.”

Schenker's article outlines an important part of Alaskan Malemute and Siberian Husky history, from how the Seeleys acquired Toto, the daughter of Seppala’s famous lead dog Togo, and how Toto helped form the foundation of Seeley’s Siberian Husky line; to how, in 1935, the AKC officially recognized the Alaskan Malamute, primarily through Seeley’s efforts.

Eva Seeley came of age in a day when Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes existed in relative obscurity, and she was one of the few who believed that these dogs could excel not only at sledding matches but also at dog shows and in people’s homes. Through absolute love and tireless dedication, Seeley saw Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes become recognized and loved throughout the country.

Libby Riddles Riding the Rose Parade Float

Libby Riddles, the first woman to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, will ride a dogsled on Alaska's 50th anniversary of statehood float. The float, designed and created by Fiesta Parade Floats, is slated to appear in the famous New Year's Day Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, and will feature five large masks made of flowers, moss and dried blueberries, representing the five cultural groups in Alaska.

Libby Riddles won the 1985 Iditarod, making race history as she became the first woman to win after a bold move across Norton Sound in a whiteout blizzard. Libby was honored by Iditarod veterinarians with the 1985 Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian Award for the treatment of her dogs, and her lead dogs, Dugan and Sister, also won the 1985 Golden Harness Award.

The theme for the 2009 Rose Parade is Hats Off to Entertainment: a collection of the world's greatest entertainers, both past and present. The parade route is 5.5 miles long, and there are generally 45 to 50 floats, each , 20 or more marching bands, and many equestrian teams. Each float is around 60 feet long and many feature computer-driven hydraulics and animation, while the surface of each float is covered entirely with natural materials such as flowers, seeds, bark and leaves.

The first Tournament of Roses parade was staged in 1890, patterned after the "Battle of Flowers" in Nice, France. More than 1 million spectators are expected to line the parade route through Pasadena, with more than 40 million television viewers.

A Patch for Lance Mackey's Zorro

A new fund-raising patch for Lance Mackey's Comeback Kennel focuses on the famous Zorro, stud dog extraordinaire and the victim of Lance's unfortunate encounter with a snowmachine at the end of last spring's All Alaska Sweepstakes race in Nome.

Designed by Mackey fan and textile wizard Sarida Steed-Bradley, of San Antonio, Texas, this unique patch will be a collector's item for any mushing enthusiast! They can be ordered for $10.00 each, postpaid, shipped via U.S. Postal Service, and approximately $7.00 of each patch order goes to support the Comeback Kennel's 2009 racing season. To place your order simply send a personal or business check or money order to: Sarida Steed-Bradley, 115 Wickes Street, San Antonio, Texas 78210-1160. Be sure to include the number of patches you'd like and your mailing address. Pay Pal account: southpaw.dogs@gmail.com


The Larry Appreciation Patch, honoring Lance's intrepid long-time leader and the only dog to win the Golden Harness Award for both the Iditarod and the Yukon Quest, is still available in limited numbers, also for $10.00 each postpaid. Join the fun, show off these beautiful patches and support the 2007 and 2008 Iditarod and Yukon Quest champion teams!

Susitna Story

Selected by a pre-screening jury for inclusion in the Anchorage International Film Festival is the animated Susitna Story: An Alaskan Sled Dog Saga, by Peter Dunlap-Shohl.

Said Sal, "As if! Be serious! I'll race you out of pride. No true Alaskan dog team fears a team that's from Outside."

73 Mushers for Iditarod 37

The Iditarod Trail Committee announced December 5, 2008 that 73 mushers have signed up to run the 2009 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The most recent mushers to sign up are Iditarod Race Veterans Bill Cotter from Nenana, Alaska; Eric Rogers from Eagle River, Alaska; and David Sawatsky from Healy, Alaska . At this time 17 rookies are entered in IDITAROD XXXVII.

'Twas The Night Before Christmas - Iditarod Version

'Twas The Night Before Christmas - Iditarod Version

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the dark,
Not an athlete was stirring, not even one bark!

The harnesses were hung on the dog rack with care,
In hopes that Lance Mackey soon would be there.

The mushers all seated in the snack bar nearby,
While visions of Fourth Street danced in their eye.

And Martin in his parka, just in from Big Lake,
Had just settled down for a long coffee break.

When out in the kennel there arose such a scream,
That Martin, at the table, knocked over the cream!

Away to the lobby, he flew like an eagle,
Tripped over his mukluks, his face in a giggle.

The shine on the ice, from a recent deep freeze,
Gave a luster of bad trails - this race is no breeze!

When what to all eyes should so wonderously quicken,
But a great big dog sled, dogs waggin' and lickin' !

With a cute bearded musher, as if in a trance,
That I knew in a moment it must be our Lance!

More rapid than blizzards, by trailside he came,
And he whistled and shouted, and called dogs by name!

Now Larry, now Hobo, now Hansome and Dred,
On Zorro, on Lippy, on Rapper, they sped...

To the end of the kennel, to the sides to and fro,
Now slip o'er the ice and a'truckin' we go!

As mushers before an Iditarod high,
When they dream of a smooth trail right up to the sky....

So up to the rafters the dogs, they all flew,
The dog sled, the athletes and Lance Mackey too!

And then in a twinkle was heard on the roof,
The prancing and pawing, it sounded like "Woof!" !

As the mushers were startled, and were turning around,
From the chimney Lance Mackey came down with a bound!

He was dressed all in fur, and had left his boots on,
When he slipped on some dog poop, his grace was all gone!

A bundle of bones he had flung on his back,
But they shot 'cross the room when his body went SMACK!

His eyes, they were spinning, his brain a bit more,
His cheeks were both frozen, when hitting the floor!

His droll little mouth let out such a shout,
That the mushers all trembled, and quickly ran out!

The line of a harness ended up in his teeth,
And a tug line encircled his head like a wreath!

He had a thin face and a little flat belly,
That shook when he fell like a bowl full of jelly!

He was lanky and lean, and a little bit brass,
And they laughed when they saw him fall right on his a-- !

With a blink of his eye, and a lump on his head,
He spoke not a word - I thought he was DEAD!

He spoke with a mumble, but got up with a bolt,
He couldn't see the mushers, he took such a jolt!

Laying a bootie aside of his nose,
And giving a shudder, to the roof top he rose.

He sprang to his dog sled, and gave it a shout,
With a gee and a haw, they really dug out!

But I heard him exclaim as he flew full of bluster,
"I'll be back next year, 'cause I'm suing you, buster!"

by Walt Tremer

With Apologies to Martin Buser, Lance Mackey and Clement C. Moore (and with special appreciation to Walt Tremer for his kind permission to share this!)