Dogsled.com: Mushing news, Iditarod, Yukon Quest, sled dog events

February 16, 2007 - DAWSON CITY, YUKON (3:30 p.m. P.S.T.) – Veteran Whitehorse musher and 1995 Yukon Quest Champion Frank Turner (18) has become the third team to scratch from the 2007 race. Turner arrived in the Dawson City checkpoint at 4:40 a.m. on Thursday and removed, or scratched, his team from the race shortly after noon today announcing that his lead dog has an injured shoulder.

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“I had some really, really great runs out there and I’m disappointed,” said Turner. “The team gave me such a total, total effort out there and they’d go again if I asked them but I would never break the trust – the dogs have to trust that I’ll take care of them above all else.”

Turner arrived in Dawson City, the midway point in the 1,000-mile (1,600 kilometre) race, in 19th place overall with a team of 10 dogs. Advised by the Yukon Quest veterinary team to drop his lead dog Carter before continuing on the trail, Turner felt it unfair to face the second half of the race and the infamous Eagle Summit with only nine dogs.

“I’m really pleased that the Yukon Quest organization has demonstrated such a priority in terms of dog care,” continued Turner. “Organizers have done a wonderful job with the trail as well – it’s in phenomenal shape and in terms of a hard-packed trail, it’s the best I’ve ever seen.”

Turner, who still maintains the record for the fastest race time from his 1995 win was scheduled to depart Dawson City toward Eagle, Alaska at 5:10 p.m. this afternoon and will now rest and return to Whitehorse later this weekend. He becomes the third musher to scratch from this year’s race joining Catherine Pinard and Kiara Adams.

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