American Dog Derby facts for kids
The American Dog Derby is a famous dogsled race held every year in Ashton, Idaho. It takes place on the third weekend of February. This exciting event is the oldest dogsled race in the United States!
The first American Dog Derby happened way back in 1917. It became super popular in the 1920s through the 1950s. But then, interest in the race slowed down in the 1960s, and it stopped for several years. Luckily, the race was brought back in 1993 and is still growing in popularity today!
History
How the Race Began
The tradition of dog sledding in Ashton started because of the Union Pacific Railroad. Ashton was built when the railroad arrived in 1906. The railroad lines continued into snowy areas like Island Park and West Yellowstone.
During winter, these railroad lines would close because of deep snow. This made Ashton the main stop for trains in the winter. Mail, people, and supplies could only reach the snowy areas by dog sled. By 1917, dog sledding was a serious job in Ashton. Many people made a living by training dog teams to carry things in winter.
The idea for the first dog sled race came from a barber in Ashton named Jay Ball. He read about other big races like the All-Alaska Sweepstakes. Two of the four people who started the American Dog Derby worked for the Union Pacific Railroad. The railroad spent a lot of money promoting the race, making it a huge international event. Some mushers (dog sled drivers) even became famous! A popular female musher, Lydia Hutchinson, even starred in a movie.
The First Big Race (1917)
The rules for the American Dog Derby were based on another race called the Hudson Bay Dog Derby. The course was 55 miles long, following the unplowed Yellowstone Branch railroad from West Yellowstone to Ashton. The first race was set for Sunday, March 4, 1917.
Sixteen teams signed up for the race. They were all from nearby areas like Harriman’s Railroad Ranch, West Yellowstone, and Ashton. Everyone expected a grand event!
But then, heavy snow started falling in Island Park. Between 20 and 40 inches of fresh snow fell just before the race! The snow was so deep and soft that only four of the 16 teams could make it to the starting point in West Yellowstone.
Even with only four teams, things started well on Sunday morning. But it was still snowing. About 8 miles into the race, the teams faced 20 more inches of new, light snow. They took turns breaking a path through it. At 14 miles, a blizzard began. The mushing became even slower and harder. The four teams pushed on all day through the storm. As it got dark, they realized they wouldn't make it to Ashton for an exciting finish. They decided to stop for the night at a fish hatchery, about 40 miles into the race.
Meanwhile, in Ashton, the people waiting for the mushers were having a great time! The crowd was large, even though it was smaller than in later years. They watched and took part in other events like ski races, ski jumping, and a 200-yard boys' dog sled race. In the Boys Race, each "team" had one boy, one sled, and one dog. There were 15 teams, and at one point, all 15 dogs got into a big fight! All 15 boys tried to untangle them. It was a lot of fun, and even though they didn't see the big race finish, most people had a wonderful time and came back the next year.
The next morning, the four teams at the fish hatchery raced the last few miles into Ashton. Tud Kent, one of the people who helped organize the race, was the first winner of the American Dog Derby! He won by over 20 minutes. He was the one who often broke the trail for the other mushers. Tud Kent went on to win five more Dog Derbies, for a total of six wins. This is more wins than any other musher!
Growing Popularity
The race was held again the next year, but on a different course. They used a figure-eight course in the valley around Ashton, where heavy snowfalls are less common.
By the early 1920s, the American Dog Derby was attracting huge crowds, estimated at 10 to 15 thousand people! It officially became the American Championship race. In fact, the All-Alaska Sweepstakes held its last race in 1919, making the American Dog Derby the oldest dogsled race still happening in America.
The American Dog Derby became so popular around the world that it was considered the World Championship in dog sled racing. The prize money grew to $1000 in the 1920s, which would be like $130,000 today! Because of the great success and international news coverage of the American Dog Derby, dog sledding became very popular. Many other dog sled races soon started across America, Canada, and Europe, helping to make dog sled racing what it is today.
See also
In Spanish: American Dog Derby para niños
