Sled Dogs take center stage in Anchorage, Bethel

SLED DOGS GALORE AT THE TOZIER TRACK THIS PAST WEEKEND AS KOUROSH PARTOW GUIDED HIS TO THE OVERALL TITLE AT THE EARL NORRIS OPEN SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

PARTOW, WHO RACED 12 DOGS SATURDAY AND 10 SUNDAY, HELD OFF SECOND-PLACE RICKY TAYLOR BY 98 SECONDS. THIRD-PLACE WENT TO JASON DUNLAP. 7 MUSHERS TOOK PART IN THE TWO-DAY RACE.

MEANWHILE, ANIAK’S RICHIE DIEHL WON THE BOGUS 150 SLED DOG DISTANCE RACE, FINISHING EARLY YESTERDAY MORNING IN BETHEL. SECOND PLACE WENT TO RON KAISER, THIRD TO FORMER IDITAROD CHAMPION PETE KAISER, AND FOURTH PLACE WENT TO ALEXANDER LARSEN. COLD TEMPERATURES FOLLOWED THE MUSHERS THE ENTIRE WAY, OFTEN DIPPING TO MUNUS 10 AND LESS.

17 TEAMS STARTED THE RACE. IT WAS A DEEPER FIELD THAN NORMAL, DUE TO THE KUSKOKWIM 300, NORMALLY HELD THE SAME WEEKEND, SHIFTING ITS DATES DUE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC. THE KUSKO IS SCHEDULED TO START FEBRUARY 12.

WITH THE WIN, DIEHL TOOK HOME ALMOST 9 THOUSAND DOLLARS OUT OF A 60 THOUSAND DOLLAR PURSE.