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History of Dog Sledding |
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1908 is when the first formal race took place. It was the All Alaska Sweepstakes. This race was from Nome to Canada, and was 408 miles long. John Hegness was declared the winner with the time of 114 hours, 15minutes, and 12 seconds. By 1910, the entries and the speeds of the teams had increased. The winner of that race was John Johnson making an unbroken record time of 74 hours, 14 minutes, and 37 seconds.
Sled dogs were originally used for work, survival, and transportation in areas with harsh climates. In the 1920’s airplanes started to replace sled dogs. Different names for sled dogs are: sleigh dogs, or sledge dogs. Sled dogs are used to pull wheel-less vehicles known as sleds. The dogs pull them over ice and snow. Mushers use a rope like material called a harness.
The sled dogs need endurance to travel far distances, they also need speed to travel distances in a decent amount of time. Sled Dogs can pull very many different sleds.
Tud Kent won the very first American Dog Derby held in 1917. 10,000 people gathered to see the races near Ashton during 1921 .Hotels became very crowded. There was also a lot of business for gambling spots. During the depression people did not have very much money. The depression during 1933 caused very few entries for the race, and the course ran only 16 miles.
In the 1932 Winter Olympics a sled dog race was held as a demonstration event. This was held in Lake Placid, New York.
Sled dog history is very interesting.
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