El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-10
alaska D0G5LED
RACE THIS WEEK
Annual Event Always At
tracts Great Attention;
TO Be Run Tomorrow.

! Nome, Alaska, April 10-The 40
! mile ali-Alaska sweepstakes dog team
race, the climax of the winter's snor+
/ events IN the north. each year BRINGS
| out the best Of the racing dogs In
! Alaska, which are said bv exDerts r.
/ be the best in the world.
/ The start and finish of the race fs % r
J Nome ana the course extends along the
I shore OF North Sound to Solomon 32
miles east. and then turns north o,-e7
/ the snow-covered tundra tbrourb
Council to Candle on Kotzebue Sou6d
! zoe miles from the starting Doint. Al
Candle the teams turn back. retracinc
| their steps to the finish at Nome The
start is expected tomorrow.
Although much depends on the care-
fuf selection and training of the doc
an equal responsibility devO1ves uD0n
The driver and the winner of the race is
hailed as the most skilful handler of
dogs in Alaska.
No Limit to Number Of Dors
There is no limit to the number Of
dogs driver can place in his team. but
the rules of the Nome Kennel club re-
quire that every dog taken out must
be brought safely back, either riding on
the sled or working in the harness
This rule is to prevent drivers from
abandoning disabled dogs on the trail.
or leaving them at the reporting sta
tions through which the racers pass.
Consequently, the drivers husband the
sLrenSlh o. lHeir Jugs carefully, per-
hitting them to rest frequently at
points along the trail, and often carry
ing two OF three tired dogs on the sleds.
until they have regained their strength
and are able to take their places in the
harness. Usually from eight to - dogs
are taken out, although in some in
stances. drivers have taken as many
as IS
Famous Drivers Entered.
Although two OF the most famous
drivers, John Johnson, holder OF the
record. Of "A hours. IA minutes. 90 sec
onds, and A. A. (uScOtty') Allan, part !
owner of the Allan Darling team, which
won in 1871 and 1912 and ALWAYS has
been close contender for first honOrs.
two sweepstakes winners are among the |
entries. They are the Bowen Delzeue /
team. driven by Fay Delzene. which /
won in 1913 in IS hours. IS minutes and !
Leonard Seppala, who drove mis- IS ST. /
berian wolf dogs to victory last year 4
in 81 hours, three minutes. Two other /
drivers who have had experience i'm /
sweepstakes racing but have not yet /
been accredited with victory. are Percy
Blatchford driving the dogs from the /
Downing Blatchford KERNEL, and Paul |
kJegstad plotting team Of highly |
trained bird dogs.
siberian Dogs the Best
In previous years, the race always
ias developed into a contest between the
Siberian wolf dogs and the Alaska bred !
Both breeds have ardent |
supporters but the champions Of the
Siberian wolves" lay stress upon the
fact that Johnsons record was estab-
ished with a team of Siberians.
Although the Siberian wolf dog lacks
he speedeof the malamute. in short dis
ance racing, he has the endurance of
MS wild progenitor coupled with the
faithful intelligence Of the Alaskan
log.
The remarkable endurance OF the ST.
lerians was demonstrated in 1914 when
Tonson drove the last 1O7 miles Of the
ace without stopping to feed his dogs.