| Iditarod increases the entry fee |
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| Written by Dogsled.com | |||||
| Tuesday, 05 June 2007 | |||||
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The Iditarod Trail Committee has voted to increase the entry fee for the 2008 running of the annual dog sled race. Mushing teams will now have to pay $3,000 USD to enter the race. Reasons for the increase has created quite a stir among the Iditarod loyalists, fan email lists and mushers. We believe the official reasoning for the increase is to cover the growing expenses (such as higher fuel prices) to manage the 1,049 mile race. Increasing the entry fee may inadvertently (or intentionally) cull out the lesser funded and smaller kennels. The debate will likely carry on for several months, but the fact is that if a musher wants to run in the 2008 Iditarod they will have to absorb the 60% increase to enter the race. Mushers are just now getting the word and they have until June 30th to raise the extra $1,200.
Notes on the entry fee increase:
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Comments (2)
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Cliff Roberson
said:
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| I am very disapppointed about the Board's inaction. It failed to vote in the modest propsosals of the rules committee, which was trying to do something about dog care along the coast. Now everyone who wants to win thinks they have to go on a nearly non-stop forced march from Unalakeet to White Mt. like Mackey. King apparently spoke for rule changes to put a stop to this, but the board, perhaps in a state of denial, did nothing. Get prepared for a PR disaster when the winner has a dog die along the coast some year soon. |
| I think the increase was a fair increase when thinking about the future. I'll stand behind that decision and support that decision. As far as other rule changes go that Cliff brings up in his message, I'd like to see mushers take a more active role in figuring out what rules would improve mushing and races. I challenge them to think of the future and think what would help the sport. Good luck to all. |
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