Jackson Hole Sled Dog Race
Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is home to the International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race, where about twenty teams compete in one of the most prestigious races across the North American in dogsledding. In fact, it is the largest of its kind in the lower section of the United States, covering some eight towns in Wyoming, ending in Utah's Park City. For mushers (the human drivers) the big cash prize is something worth racing for and it has become something that also attracts many hundreds of keen visitors each year.
Every year mushers and dogs from across North American and the world descend on Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for one of the continent's most amazing sporting races, the International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race, where as many as twenty competitors drive their teams of dogs and sleds through wintery territory from Jackson Hole all the way to Park City in Utah, some three hundred and fifty miles of open and rolling, sometimes rough terrain, with some stage stops at varied towns enroute. In fact, this race draws international media attention as well as a loyal crowd of spectators and curious onlookers every year.
The race usually starts around the last week of January and finishes some seven days later. It goes through eight towns in the state of Wyoming, known as stage stops, where racers and their dogs rest for the night in each community. Mushers and spectators are welcomed with homely hospitality, including fishing derbies, carnivals, banquets, contests, ice sculpting, kids' dogsled racing and even dog parades.
The race is sponsored by Pedigree, famed for its dog and cat foods worldwide. It supports many programs related to dogsledding and the care of the dogs themselves. Originally the race was founded by Frank Teasley in 1996 with the intention of making dogsledding a more publicly accessible sport. Since then it has grown to include over 1200 legs, 350 miles and now twelve towns and two different US states.
For race dates and details, vist the International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race website
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