Snowmachine injures dog in Mackey's Sweepstakes team
Originally published Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 6:31 p.m.
Updated Sunday, March 30, 2008 at 2:35 p.m.
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NOME -- A man on a snowmachine ran into the dog team driven by Yukon Quest and Iditarod champion Lance Mackey in the All Alaska Sweepstakes, seriously injuring a key animal in Mackey's kennel.
Mackey broke down in tears Saturday telling how a veteran race dog, Zorro, was injured as the animal rode in the sled's basket.
The snowmachine driver has not been identified.
The 408-mile All Alaska Sweepstakes is a race from Nome to tiny Candle and back. The race was first held 100 years ago. The winner-take-all first prize is $100,000.
Mackey, a Fairbanks musher, has won the 1,100-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race between Anchorage and Nome and the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest between Fairbanks and Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, the last two years.
He was in third place in the Sweepstakes at around midnight Friday just 20 miles from the finish line when two snowmachines came up fast from behind.
"I was flashing them like mad with my headlamp," he said. "I was shining my headlamp right in his face, but they kept on coming at me. I jumped aside, and by 30 feet further up the trail, there was a snowmachine sitting on the middle of my sled."
The machine impaled the sled bag with its runners.
"Three or four dogs were sucked underneath and Zorro was trapped in the sled bag," Mackey said.
The accident happened several miles west of the Safety checkpoint. The driver who hit Mackey and his partner on the other machine helped Mackey right the mess, then left as Mackey continued on.
Mackey said his $3,000 sled, made by Canadian Hans Gatt, made it to Nome but was ruined. It was of no consequence compared to his dogs, he said.
"That's only material," he said. "I would give my life for my dogs. I can't make anyone know how important animals are to me."
By midday Saturday, Zorro was on a commercial flight to Pet Emergency, a veterinarian facility in Anchorage, for medical treatment. Zorro had broken ribs and perhaps internal injuries.
"If he lives, I don't think he is going to want to race to Nome again," Mackey said.
A team handler accompanied Zorro. Mackey remained in Nome with his team. Several other dogs had injuries, but they were not life threatening, Mackey said.
Mackey made a plea for race officials to keep snowmachines away from the trail at the end of the race, a growing safety issue.
"Running from Safety to Front Street is almost suicidal," Mackey said. "I almost got hit on the way into Nome during Iditarod and then was almost hit half an hour later."
Safety Roadhouse, about 22 miles east of Nome, operates as a bar during the race and attracts spectators on snowmachines. Mackey said he wanted to focus attention on trail safety.
The 9-year-old injured dog has been a star in the teams that won Alaska's two major long-distance races the last two years. Last year, Zorro became ill at White Mountain near the end of the Iditarod and did not get to finish the race.
Mackey contacted media in Nome on Saturday saying he wanted to give the snowmachine driver a chance to come forward "like a man and make it right."
"Just make it right. That's all I want. I don't bear him any ill will, but I want him to make it right."
He yelled at the snowmachine driver after the collision, Mackey said.
"I didn't give him a chance to say anything. I was saying things I wish now I hadn't said."
Zorro is the kennel's stud dog. If he dies, Mackey said, his future in sled dog racing is uncertain. For updates on Zorro's condition, visit Mackey's Web site, www.mackeyscomebackkennel.com.
"My team's future, my personal future, my career, my whole life is in question," he told Nome Police Department officer Byron Redburn, who took a report in cooperation with Alaska State Troopers, who have jurisdiction.
Gregory Saclamana, a volunteer running the information line at All Alaska Sweepstakes headquarters in Nome, said race officials would not comment.
Mitch Seavey won the All Alaska Sweepstakes.
Community Discussion
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"The driver who hit Mackey and his partner on the other machine helped Mackey right the mess, then left as Mackey continued on."
At least they were decent enough to do that. But they should have done much much more. Poor Zorro, I hope he pulls through.
Perhaps there should be more reflective material on the sled and on the dogs during these events.
So sorry to hear about your dog.
Hang in there Lance. It's a small community out there. Somebody will talk.
Maybe the trail should be closed to snowmachines during the race.
Lance, I am so VERY sorry about Zorro. We'll keep him and you in our prayers.
This is the second serious March 2008 incident involving a snowmobile hitting and killing or badly injuring dogs participating in major organized races. Jennifer Freking's Iditarod team was hit by a snowmobile. One of her dogs was killed and another had to be flown out for treatment. Now one of Lance's dogs, his kennel's main stud Zorro, is badly injured by another irresponsible snowmobiler speeding down the trail, oblivious to all Lance's attempts to attract his attention. The trail should be closed to snowmobiles during races! People wanting to follow the action should travel by dogsled if they can't stay far enough away from the trail to avoid hitting teams and sleds with snowmobiles.
More reflective material won't help if you can shine a light in the idiots face and he still won't slow down or stop.
I really want to be fair minded about the situation. All of the snow machiners I've encountered while mushing dogs in the Two Rivers area the past few seasons have been very courteous trail users. They've been cautious, have given my team plenty of space and have behaved very respectfully around my dogs. I really appreciate their obvious care and concern.
The difference is that the snow machiners I've encountered were sober and were riding at reasonable speeds for the trails and conditions in which I encountered them.
That doesn't change the fact that the number of incidents of snow machines running into dog teams seems to be on the increase, and the vast majority of such collisions share two common factors - speed and alcohol.
If snow machine riders don't want to see their sport heavily regulated as it is in many of the Lower-48 States they need to throw some of the rotten apples out of the basket. If the trend continues you can bet that traditional non-motorized trail users will be among the first to press the legislature into enacting just such restrictions.
I believe that we can all share the trails, and do so safely, but it requires courtesy - and sobriety - on everyone's part.
Swanny, I also thought that drunkness might have been an issue here. But having more reflective material will, on the margin, decrease the probability that such wonderful dogs will be harmed. The U.S. Army at Fort Wainwright demands that all soldiers wear reflective belts while running to decrease the probability that soldiers will be hit by cars. Such wonderful and loyal dogs should likewise be protected. Even drunks respond to stimuli.
I probably should be better about citing my sources. According to an interview recorded in Nome, the driver of the machine "appeared to have been drinking." (reference URL http://alaskasweepstakesblog.com/?p=164)
In any event, that ugly red snowsuit that Lance wears has reflective tapes on the sleeves and maybe around the waist. I don't recall his rig specifically, but most harnesses have reflective tapes sewn on them, and many mushers run lines that have reflective material woven into the cordage. A lot of the long distance mushers run flashing LED lights on the collars of some or all of their dogs.
It has been well proved that highly intoxicated drivers are attracted to light, which accounts for the high proportion of police cars, ambulances and fire engines that are struck by DWI drivers on scenes of traffic accidents. So yes, drunks do respond to stimuli, but the response is the opposite of that of sober people, and much more dangerous.
It really isn't a case of what Lance should have done - it's a case of what the snowmachine driver should have done - he should have stayed sober enough to operate his machine safely.
Good points Swanny; I have been educated. :)
I have also supported stronger punishments for drunken snowmachine operators. As I have written here before, the Ancient Roman Republican criminal justice system was vastly superior to the current American long-term-prison-based one.
"Safety Roadhouse, about 22 miles east of Nome, operates as a bar during the race and attracts spectators on snowmachines."
That is just plain stupidity. Especially when there have already been reports of near-collisions at the end of the Iditarod. What are these people thinking? Get a bunch of people drunk then send them out on the race trail.
I agree. The drunkards (assuming they were) should be punished much more heavily. I have little tolerance for the ill-disciplined. Those who lack self-discipline should submit themselves to a version of the Spartan Agoge.
really very sad..the dogs are in my prayers!
This is a sad thing to happen. And I wonder if there is more to this than anyone mentioned, like is there any chance this was by design and not an accident. There is no excuse for coming at a person who is flashing you with his light. So anyhow that is my thought also It just could be...
Mr. Mackey,
If all you did was yell (and cuss?)and vent verbally, you should be named the patron saint of dog racing. I only have one dog, who's basically worthless monitarily, but if someone ran him over, by all evidence on purpose, I'd be wanting to do a lot more than yell at them!! For such an unreasonable act one would say you have every right to be just as unreasonable. They owe you the cost of the remaining of this year's races at least. I'd say you own their sled for the loss of yours as well as a new dog sled and they'd better cough up all of Zorro's medical bills (FOR LIFE!) and the expense of a new Stud. So you sue 'em, and I'll pray there are at least 5 jurors on the case just like me. Just don't shoot 'em (tempting as that might be) they NEED to live through the repairations of their actions. They should also go to jail for reckless endangerment and possibly drunk operation of a vehicle.
Is it me or is someone out to try to impair Mr. Mackey's chances of winning another race? Can we start a pool for Mr. Mackey's legal fees?
Let's all thank GOD Lance Mackey isn't the one with broken ribs and internal bleeding! Things could definately have been worse. POOR ZORRO!
alaska flower- I am sure that the owner and operators of the bar in no way condone this happening. It is hard for me to hear the blame for an individuals actions to be placed on the bar owner and its operators. They paid for a liquor license and I am positive that they would rather people stayed on site and continued to support there buisness during this very short income season for them as opposed to them going out on sleds and driving while intoxicated. People are responsible for there own actions, the bartender and barowner are not responsible for a few idiots who dont know how to say 'stop'.
I have to agree with AlaskaFlower. Bars ARE responsible for the drunks they create and any bar owner should know that the drunks they let out into the world cannot be trusted. Allowing those drunks to drive any motorized vehicle on a trail full of sled dogs is just a recipe for disaster.
Maybe next year the "Safety Bar" can do the "safe" thing and withold the sale of alcohol during race time.
Lance our prayers are with you. 90% of this world can't even imagine your pain. As far as the man that caused the damage, I wouldn't count on him coming forward. Maybe he will, maybe he's just scared. One thing is for certain though, if he doesn't, he will go to his grave someday as half a man. As far as Zorro.....keep this in mind, How many time's has he amazed you ? What's One More ?
Oh crap. That pretty much sums up my thoughts.
Can anyone tell us what is the best website to keep informed on this.An awful lot of people care about this...
A terrible way to end a race indeed. I,for one, don't believe it was an accident...I think there is enough bad blood, jealousy and just plain stupidity out there for someone to perpetrate such a heinous act. If it is, indeed, an accident, alcohol involved or not, shame on that snowmachine driver AND his partner for not having so much as a set between them to own up for what they did. I don't think I would have had as much grace as Lance for just yelling at you.
I have been rooting for Lance for a long time and I think he is an example for everyone, not just those in the mushing community. It is refreshing in a world of violence, chaos and political confusion that there is someone pursuing a passion and excelling at something for the pure love of it, overcoming obstacles that would stop an ordinary person cold.
So to Lance, I am praying for Zorro, for you, all your dogs and family at this time and pray that the morons who did this finally find a pair.
Sorry, JB, I don't agree. When a business "operates as a bar during the race and attracts spectators on snowmachines," what do they expect? Do they think their patrons will get drunk and WALK home? No, they're going to get drunk and drive their snowmachines on the dog trails. A five-year-old could figure that out.
They ARE responsible, right along with the drivers.
Lance Mackey's Web site is www.mackeyscomebackkennel.com
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(This comment was removed by the Newsminer.com staff. Please see our User Agreement for further information.)
its always nice to have someone else to blame besides the people who did it, by the way did anyone say that guy on the sled was at the bar or did he bring his own beer? It is implied but not proven, so again it is nice to have someone to blame but the reality is that no one made anyone go in and drink, they did it on there own because the law says at a certain age you become responsible for yourself. A bartender is ONLY responsible for serving people of age and that are not so inebriated they should not be in public. Not to police the roads, or the trails or worry about someone that might have brought there own beer and went to Safety on the trail after drinking at home.
True, bartenders are not responsible for policing the roads. That is the job of the Alaska State Troopers - and where the hell were they? Once upon the time the troopers enjoyed a well earned reputation for effective law enforcement. That was a long time ago, though.
I heard in a news report from KTUU that the snow machine driver has contacted Lance and offered to pay the expenses. I hope the report is true, and that the person will follow up on his promise.
I also hope that "officer friendly" as his buddies with AST will wake up, smell the coffee, and start sending officers out to patrol the trails during the races. Just visible presence alone is enough to prevent 80% of the behavior that is apparently getting worse, rather than better.
Maybe the troopers could get involved.sounds like they could make some good money just like at artic man. Hide in the shadows then then close the trap.Fill the pattie wagon.Money-Money-money.Keep the drunks coming.N_TRAP_MENT!!!Just take the easy ones.You can leave the teenagers that you can`t catch on sleds.(just wait in the shadows)
Having more reflective material on the dog teams won't make a damn bit of difference if the snowmachine driver is overdriving his headlights or overdriving his own capabilities. He has to have been really clipping along to have skewered Lance's sled like that! And if he had been drinking, it only compounded the issue of him driving his machine too fast. One needs to be able to stop in time, just like driving a car on the highway. It's called using your common sense!
I just read in a Seattle paper that Zorro is going to a full recovery, that he may not race again but recover and be able to play and retire. What good News this is....
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