News-Miner Editorial
Marvelous Mackey
Iditarod win again shows Fairbanks musher’s magic touch
Published Thursday, March 13, 2008
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Stumble It!Astonishing.
Any number of words come to mind when considering the accomplishment of Lance Mackey in winning the Iditarod again — and doing so, again, following a victory in Alaska’s other long-distance sled dog race, the Yukon Quest.
He and the dogs of his Comeback Kennel, based in Fairbanks, have won an astounding six long-distance dog races in four years. That’s two Iditarods in a row and four Yukon Quests in succession.
It is unheard of. More properly, though, it was unheard of.
Not any more.
It could be that Lance Mackey’s success will open a new approach to long-distance mushing. More and more, it seems, dog drivers are entering the Iditarod and the Yukon Quest in the same year. That approach, and the entering of dogs from the Yukon Quest in the Iditarod in the same year, could lead more mushers considering entering the Yukon Quest as a warm-up for the Iditarod. Lance Mackey has proven that success can be had in both in the same year, so others are surely considering whether they can do it, too.
Musher Ken Anderson, also of Fairbanks (and Mackey’s neighbor), trailed just behind Mackey into Whitehorse to take second place in the Yukon Quest. His team placed fourth in the Iditarod. That’s no small feat.
The Yukon Quest certainly stands to benefit from the Mackey coattails. The Quest has long been viewed as the tougher of the two races and, as such, draws far fewer mushers than the more-famous Iditarod, which also has a much larger prize payout.
The Quest typically draws a field about a quarter the size of what the Iditarod does.
It isn’t just the Yukon Quest that could gain from the Mackey Mystique and the seemingly boundless energy of the man and his dogs. The sport of dog mushing in general easily gains from the success of the delightful musher, who always seem ready with a friendly smile to race volunteers and fans.
Astonishing.
Congratulations to Lance Mackey, his family and to the dogs.
Community Discussion
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Well put, Editor.
This is truly about human and animal endeavor at its best, the dogs love what they do just as much as the mushers, i.e. a reason for being, and given the chance to excel for the "Big Dog", they leap in the traces and enjoy their part and place in it.
Add to that the love and care given by the real mushers, and we all have something to be proud of.
This from an old dog trainer/musher and handler from the 60's and early 70's.
The graciousness shown by Jeff King in all of this is something that endears the man to me like no 1st place finish could do.
Jeff, your statements in Nome while standing with the Mac only further cement your status as Champ along with Martin and the others who humble themselves whether taking 1st or not.
Without taking away anything from Lance Mackey, Jeff King is a true champion as well. He is also a good man. I was involved with mid distance racing in the 80s as well as the YQ and know Jeff to be an honorable man and a credit to the sport of competitive dog mushing. With that said, I think the feats of Lance Mackey will go down in the history of dog mushing as legendary and will greatly assist the YQ in getting more exposure...it has already! I hope the Quest can get their act together to capitalize on this new and widespread exposure.
I've never met you Lance but I think you are awesome! I can't even begin to imagine the physical challenges you put yourself through, running two races back to back. You sir, are a true champion in every sense of the word and you definitely amaze me!
Id like to add the word INSPIRATIONAL! I wonder how many people, youngsters, etc, will be inspired by this man's perseverance, dedication and tenacity? truly an example for us all...
......and how many of us are completely turned away in the face of his arrogance?
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I'd like to know how many of you have personally met either Jeff or Lance. Or even better done business with either of them. I have happend to deal with both of them in the past. I'm not going to sit here and talk bad about anyone, it just makes me smile when people are so quick to make comments about people they don't even know. My dealings with Jeff King have left a bad taste in my mouth and to sit here and read people saying that he is being humble and gracious in Nome is a joke. Did you not see the video of Lance walking up at the finish to congratulate Jeff and Jeff just turned his back on him? Yeah pretty gracious eh?
From my dealings with Lance, he is the most down to earth, humble, non-cocky, non-arrogant guy there is. To say otherwise is being arrogant in itself. My hats off to Lance, and his family and handlers for putting together a winning team time and time again.
you got that right
Congratulations Lance you do have the "bragging rights".
Making sure I get to shake your hand when I come to Alaska , and any other of the Iditarod or Quest Mushers I see.
Was a great race.
Fantastic job to all that ran the Iditarod, some special people you are, the Ladies too, and for all the dogs that got you there.....great job.
Great job Lance. Any chance in us buying a couple dogs from you this summer?
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