Dogsled Racing

Dogsled racing is a sport that involves a group of dogs pulling a sled over a long, snow-covered course. Races can last from a few hours to multiple days. The sport evolved from the Inuit people’s use of sled dogs as transportation.  

In 1924, the Alaskan town of Nome experienced an outbreak of diphtheria (a contagious disease). Due to dangerous weather, the cure could not be sent by boat or plane. A team of 20 drivers (called mushers) and 150 sled dogs worked together to deliver the serum. Among them were the famous sled dogs Togo and Balto who were honored as heroes.  

This historic run is marked annually by the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in early March. The 1,000-mile trail starts in Anchorage and finishes in Nome. While the Iditarod is nicknamed the “Last Great Race on Earth” other dogsled races take place every year. The Yukon Quest in Canada is often said to be more challenging than the Iditarod, and the Finnmarksløpet in Norway is Europe’s most popular dogsled races.  

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