Distance: 210 miles (338 km)
Trail: Dawson City, Yukon to Eagle, Alaska and return, following the Yukon River with some bush trails depending on the ice conditions. The race follows most of Percy DeWolfe's original dogsled trail.
Layovers: Mushers take a mandatory six (6) hour layover in Eagle, plus an additional two (2) hours in either Fortymile or Eagle. Please bring stove fuel, as well as straw for bedding the dogs, to both Fortymile and Eagle, as these will not be available at either location.
Number of Dogs: Maximum nine (9), minimum (6)
Number of Teams: The race will be limited to a maximum of twenty (20) teams (maximum two (2) teams per kennel) based on sign up order. Should the number of teams exceed twenty (20), a wait list will be maintained. A wait list has priority over late entries.
Start: 10:00 am, with a staggered start timed at two (2) minute intervals. The first musher to leave the starting line carries a package of mail to deliver to Eagle.
Registration Deadline: Mushers must register with payment by February 15, 2023. Any mushers wishing to sign up after the February 15 deadline will incur an additional $100 late registration fee. Should there be more than 20 teams, a wait list will be established and given priority over late entries.
Border Crossing Info: This race crosses the Canada/US border into the US on the outbound leg, and back to Canada on the return leg. The Percy Race Organization will submit musher information to both Canadian and US Customs prior to the race start. Mushers should be prepared to clear US customs in Eagle and Canadian customs at the finish line in Dawson. Please see Race Overview and Rules below for more detailed information.
Registration and Entry Fee:
The entry fee for the Percy DeWolfe Memorial Mail Race is $350.
Entry will not be guaranteed until the entry form is complete and the entry fee has been paid in full.
If teams withdraw from the race after the entry fee has been paid the following refund rates apply:
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50% refund between January 1st and January 31
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No refunds after February 9
With the approval of the Race Marshall, and assuming residency criteria are met, mushers may be substituted up to and including the start of the mushers’ meeting.
Eligibility to Enter: In accordance with Yukon Government regulations, all mushers and handlers must be doubly vaccinated against COVID-19.
Purse:
$10,000
RULES: Percy DeWolfe Memorial Mail Race
1. Mandatory Pre-Race Vet Check:
To be held the day before the race. Appointments will be assigned to each musher by race veterinarians.
2. Mandatory Mushers' Meeting:
Refer to Musher Information page for time and place. Door is locked at the beginning of the meeting, and there will be a $50 fine for late arrivals, payable before the end of the meeting.
3. Staging Area:
Third Avenue and King Street. All teams must be in designated staging spot no later than 9:00 am. Teams deemed by Race Officials to be unmanageable in the staging area when they need to be brought to the start chute will not be able to start at their designated start time. In this case, the team will start last, but will be timed from their initial designated start time.
4. Race Start:
"The Percy" race has a timed start at two (2) minute intervals. Teams must leave, within one (1) minute of their start time. If unable to enter the chute at their designated time, the team will start last. The team must leave within thirty (30) minutes of their designated start time or be disqualified and forfeit the entry fee.
5. Handlers:
The Handler will be allowed to ride and/or assist to the start.
6. Number of Dogs:
All mushers are allowed six (6) dogs minimum, nine (9) dogs maximum. No loose leaders. No dogs may be added to a team after the start of the race. Dogs must be in musher's control at all times. No switching of dogs between mushers is permitted. All dogs must finish the race, either in the team or in the sled.
7. Treatment of Dogs:
There shall be no cruel or inhumane treatment of dogs. (As determined by the Race Officials.). All care and feeding of dogs will be done by the Musher only (except in the case of a Dog Drop). Only mushers may assist one another during the race. No outside assistance is allowed during the race, including checkpoints, unless an emergency is declared and judged so by the Race Marshall. Incidental help at checkpoints is permitted.Any pre-existing dog health issues must be identified to the vets prior to the race start. If an issue is not declared before the race and is then noticed during the race, it will be deemed to have occurred during the race. Teams will be assessed by Race Vet and Race Official as necessary. Teams may not be allowed to proceed until cleared by Race Official.
8. Mandatory Gear:
Every Musher will have in their possession during the entire race the following items:
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RACE BIB must be worn at race start and finish, and must be returned in good condition
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Winter sleeping bag
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Hand axe
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One pair of snowshoes and bindings
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Snow hook
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Light (flashlight or headlight)
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At least 8 booties per dog when departing Dawson and Eagle
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Sled bag big enough to properly secure inside and cover at least one to two dogs and gear
- Proof of current Parvovirus and Distemper vaccinations and Rabies certificates for each dog running the race
- Vet record tube (if required)
- Required Border Crossing Identification for crossing between Canada and United States
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Straw
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Sturdy mid-distance or long-distance sled (no sprint sleds permitted)
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SPOT device as supplied by the race organization
One hour per missing item will be added to Musher's total running time. Teams missing any of these items at the start will not be allowed to leave until they are present. Gear will also be checked in Forty Mile.
9. Mandatory Supplies:
An adequate amount of dog food (three [3] days' worth) per dog for the duration of the race is recommended, as well as an adequate amount of food for the musher.
10. Clearing Trail and Passing:
Any musher setting up camp must clear the trail of their dogs and gear. Slower teams must yield to faster, overtaking teams and provide the overtaking team sufficient time to untangle if necessary before following. A musher being passed is responsible for controlling their dogs to allow for a clean pass. The team being passed cannot pass the overtaking team for a minimum of five (5) minutes.
11. Littering:
Absolutely no littering anywhere along the trail or at the checkpoint. Handlers are required to clean up after teams in the staging area and dispose of waste in designated areas.
12. Eagle Checkpoint
All mandatory gear will be checked in Eagle. Mushers will notify the timer/checker immediately upon arrival in Eagle, and have the checker note arrival and departure time. Every musher must personally sign in and out of Eagle. One six (6) hour stop at Eagle is mandatory. All dogs, sled, gear and mushers must remain at checkpoint area at all times.
13. Mandatory Layovers:
EIght (8) hours of mandatory rest time is required by mushers. Six (6) hours must be taken at Eagle. The other two (2) hours can be taken at either Fortymile or Eagle. Mushers must let the checker know that they are taking their mandatory two (2) hours. The two (2) hours must be taken together - the rest time cannot be split into one (1) hour at Eagle, and one (1) hour at Fortymile.
14. Dog Drop:
Mushers may leave sick or injured dogs at the Fortymile Dog Drop to be picked up on the way back to Dawson. A musher must have at least six (6) dogs remaining in their team to continue the rest of the way. Mushers must supply a dog chain or covered steel cable at least four feet in length, one dish and 24 hours’ worth of food for each dropped dog. Excess food left at the dog drop cannot be picked up on the return trip. Mushers must fill out an instruction sheet and sign the waiver. Musher must pick up all dogs dropped when returning to Dawson. Mushers are responsible to leave dog(s) in proper condition, ie. booties and harness, etc.
15. Sportsmanship:
All mushers must conduct themselves in a civil and sportsmanlike manner for the duration of the event, from the Mushers' Meeting through to the end of the Awards Banquet.
16. No Man's Land:
No man's land shall be considered the land between the Moosehide Village (approx. the last three (3) miles) and the finish line. Within this area, trail does not have to be given at the request of the overtaking musher.
17. Finish:
An official finish shall be determined by the front of the sled crossing the finish line. Gear will be checked and teams must be cleared by a race official before entering any vehicle.
18. Penalties:
Failure to adhere to any and all rules will result in a penalty. Race officials will determine suitable penalties. A musher may request a penalty review by the Race Marshal.
19. Appeal:
A further appeal can be made to the Appeal Committee. The decision of the Appeal Committee is final. Any appeal has to be made to the committee prior to the start of the Awards Banquet.
20. Censure:
The Committee may reject any entries submitted for any reason of past conduct.
21. Protest:
Any observed infraction of these rules may be protested verbally to the next official on the trail. A written report will also be required within a time frame, as indicated by the Race Official.
22. Vehicles:
If mushers have vehicles, they must be in the finish line vicinity as indicated at the Mushers' Meeting.
23. Priority vet tube:
Mushers with a vet tube must present it to Race Officials/Vets at checkpoints. Those with priority vet tubes must receive clearance from the Race Official/Vet to continue on the trail. Mushers given a priority vet tube in Eagle must stop in Fortymile and receive clearance by the race official to continue on the trail (see also Vet Care #25).
24: Mandatory Fortymile Stop:
Mushers must stop in Fortymile on the return leg of the race, and may be required to rest at the discretion of Fortymile Race Officials/Vets.
25: Vet Care:
Any pre-existing dog health issues must be identified to the vets prior to the race start at the Pre-race Vet Check. If an issue is not declared before the race and is then noticed during the race, it will be deemed to have occurred during the race. Teams will be assessed by Race Vets and Race Officials as necessary. Teams may not be allowed to proceed until cleared by Race Officials.
Should any vet administered IV fluids or shots be deemed necessary and given at any time to a dog(s) during the race, the entire team will be disqualified.
Any bagged dogs due to vet inspection/instruction, must stay within the bag and cannot be run again.
Mushers with a vet tube must present it to Race Officials/Vets at checkpoints. Those with priority vet tubes must receive clearance from the Race Official/Vet to continue on the trail. Mushers given a priority vet tube in Eagle must stop in Fortymile and receive clearance by the race official to continue on the trail.
26. Fortymile and Eagle Checkpoints
Fortymile is a co-managed site between the Tr’ondek Hwech’in and the Yukon Government. As a sign of respect, consumption of alcohol and/or drugs will not be tolerated. The same will be expected in Eagle.