Pedigree Stage Stop Race
The Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race is an annual sled dog competition beginning in late January in western Wyoming in the United States.
History
Founded in 1996 by Frank Teasley and Jayne Ottman, the races’ original purpose was to promote childhood immunization rates in Wyoming and make the sport of sled dog racing more accessible to the public. For a number of years, the race was called the International Rocky Mountain Stage Stop. Unlike traditional long-distance races such as the Iditarod, the Pedigree Stage Stop features a stage-racing format, where teams compete on a different course each day, with breaks for rest and travel between stages.Race format
The race currently spans 8 days, with a ceremonial start in downtown Jackson, Wyoming. Each subsequent stage takes place in a different town or city. Participating teams, composed of a musher and their sled dogs, cover distances ranging from 28 to 35 miles per stage. The combined time for all stages determines the overall winner.Key rules include:
- Mushers enter a pool of up to 16 dogs
- The maximum daily team size is 12 dogs.
- Dogs must meet rigorous health and vaccination standards.
- Teams are required to follow strict guidelines to ensure the safety and welfare of the dogs.
The race begins in Jackson, Wyoming, and traverses stages across several towns in Wyoming, including:
All stages are out-and-back routes where the mushers and their teams leave the starting area and navigate the designated racecourse to a loop or turn-around and head back to the starting area to complete the run.