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American Dog Derby: Dog Sled Racing Since 1917
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Published: June 29, 2007
Mush! Mush! Mush! That is the sound one is likely to hear at the annual American Dog Derby, which is held every year in Ashton, Idaho. The American Dog Derby is the most famous dog sled racing event since it was started during the winter of 1917. Even now in the American Dog Derby's 90th Anniversary year of 2007, competitors from all over the western United States gather for the two day event that covers miles of forest area east of Ashton, Idaho.
The first annual American Dog Derby was held on March 4, 1917, and the course was set to cover 55 miles of land between Ashton, Idaho, and West Yellowstone, Mont. Back then, there were only five participants in the race. Since then, those numbers have continued to grow as well the numbers of spectators who gather each year to see the historic event take place. The American Dog Derby's popularity has fluctuated over the years due to complications such as the depression, lack of snow, and the creation of snowmobiles. The American Dog Derby was discontinued during the United States involvement in World War II before it was finally reinstated again in 1948. It wasn't until 1994 that mushers from all over the country began participating in the event.
Whether it's been the American Dog Derby or not, Dog sled racing has always been a sport that has wowed its spectators. There is just something about dog sled racing that people can't get enough of. Whether it's the skill of the musher or the drive and strength of the sled dogs, dog sled racing is a celebration of the unspoken bond between human and animal. Some people might say that dog sled racing is all about the dogs, but those people are wrong.
In dog sled racing, the musher is just as important as the sled dogs. A good musher needs to be knowledgeable about everything from physical conditioning to canine behavior. In the American Dog Derby, mushers and dogs alike have strict rules to follow. There can only be one musher per team, so whoever is on the back of the sled at the beginning has to be the one crossing the finish line at the end of the race. The number of sled dogs per team differs with each of the three race distances. For the 100 mile race, there can be between 9-12 dogs and the team must finish with at least 8. For the 60 mile race, a team can have 6-8 dogs, but only needs 5 to finish. In the potluck race, a team can have 3-6 dogs with at least 3 left at the end. Animal lovers, relax, because any cruel or inhumane treatment of sled dogs is not allowed in the American Dog Derby.
There have been people from time to time who have labeled dog sled racing as cruel punishment to the dogs, but that is far from the truth. The thing about sled dogs is that they run because they like to run. Sled dogs are born and raised to compete in races like the American Dog Derby. Sled dogs don't just race once a year and sit around doing nothing until the next competition. Sled dogs and their musher are in training much more than they are actually racing. The performance of the sled dogs is the responsibility of the musher and not the dogs themselves.
Besides the feeling of victory that a musher feels when winning the American Dog Derby, there is also a cash prize. The top seven racers on the 100-mile course each receive $1,000 as part of their victory. But for most participants, the American Dog Derby isn't just about winning, it's also about the solid bond that grows and grows between musher and sled dogs. The American Dog Derby just goes to show that dog really is man's best friend and they make one heck of a race team together, too.
Sources:
ISDRA Sled Dog Racing. 8 June 2007. ISDRA. 22 June 2007.
http://www.isdra.org/
Race Rules. American Dog Derby. 2006. American Dog Derby Committee. 22 June 2007.
http://www.americandogderby.org/sled_dog_race_ru les.htm.
Ashton's Sled Dog event Celebrates 90 Years this Weekend. The Island Park News. Feb. 2007. 22 June 2007. http://islandparknews.com/atf.php?sid=1556
The first annual American Dog Derby was held on March 4, 1917, and the course was set to cover 55 miles of land between Ashton, Idaho, and West Yellowstone, Mont. Back then, there were only five participants in the race. Since then, those numbers have continued to grow as well the numbers of spectators who gather each year to see the historic event take place. The American Dog Derby's popularity has fluctuated over the years due to complications such as the depression, lack of snow, and the creation of snowmobiles. The American Dog Derby was discontinued during the United States involvement in World War II before it was finally reinstated again in 1948. It wasn't until 1994 that mushers from all over the country began participating in the event.
Whether it's been the American Dog Derby or not, Dog sled racing has always been a sport that has wowed its spectators. There is just something about dog sled racing that people can't get enough of. Whether it's the skill of the musher or the drive and strength of the sled dogs, dog sled racing is a celebration of the unspoken bond between human and animal. Some people might say that dog sled racing is all about the dogs, but those people are wrong.
In dog sled racing, the musher is just as important as the sled dogs. A good musher needs to be knowledgeable about everything from physical conditioning to canine behavior. In the American Dog Derby, mushers and dogs alike have strict rules to follow. There can only be one musher per team, so whoever is on the back of the sled at the beginning has to be the one crossing the finish line at the end of the race. The number of sled dogs per team differs with each of the three race distances. For the 100 mile race, there can be between 9-12 dogs and the team must finish with at least 8. For the 60 mile race, a team can have 6-8 dogs, but only needs 5 to finish. In the potluck race, a team can have 3-6 dogs with at least 3 left at the end. Animal lovers, relax, because any cruel or inhumane treatment of sled dogs is not allowed in the American Dog Derby.
There have been people from time to time who have labeled dog sled racing as cruel punishment to the dogs, but that is far from the truth. The thing about sled dogs is that they run because they like to run. Sled dogs are born and raised to compete in races like the American Dog Derby. Sled dogs don't just race once a year and sit around doing nothing until the next competition. Sled dogs and their musher are in training much more than they are actually racing. The performance of the sled dogs is the responsibility of the musher and not the dogs themselves.
Besides the feeling of victory that a musher feels when winning the American Dog Derby, there is also a cash prize. The top seven racers on the 100-mile course each receive $1,000 as part of their victory. But for most participants, the American Dog Derby isn't just about winning, it's also about the solid bond that grows and grows between musher and sled dogs. The American Dog Derby just goes to show that dog really is man's best friend and they make one heck of a race team together, too.
Sources:
ISDRA Sled Dog Racing. 8 June 2007. ISDRA. 22 June 2007.
http://www.isdra.org/
Race Rules. American Dog Derby. 2006. American Dog Derby Committee. 22 June 2007.
http://www.americandogderby.org/sled_dog_race_ru les.htm.
Ashton's Sled Dog event Celebrates 90 Years this Weekend. The Island Park News. Feb. 2007. 22 June 2007. http://islandparknews.com/atf.php?sid=1556
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