Gold Run Sled Dog Championship

Dog team running down the trail Christian Taveau of France competing in the 6-dog class at the 2003 Gold Run sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank and Annamaet Petfoods. Photo by Dave Partee.

The Gold Run is held on the third weekend in February and marks the beginning of the championship race season in Fairbanks. By this time, many mushers from the Lower 48, Canada, and Europe have arrived in Alaska and are ready to test their dogs against the top mushers in the world on the fastest and best maintained trails in the world. The Gold Run typically has some of the largest competitive fields of any sprint race in Alaska.

The 10-dog format was adopted to attract both 8-dog and open class mushers and foster competition among mushers who do not often compete against each other.

A Brief History

The Gold Run has taken over the date on the ADMA race calendar that was occupied in the early years by the Women's North American Championship and later by the Mini North American Championship. The Women's NAC was an open class event held annually from 1952–1976 and again in 1981. Its replacement, the Mini NAC, was a 10-dog race open to both men and women. The format was similar to the Women's NAC, with three heats of 10, 10 and 14 miles. The Mini NAC was run 1978–79 and 1982–84.

In 1985, the race was shortened to two 12-mile heats. Then, in 1987, a new 6-dog class was added to the existing 10-dog format and the race acquired its present name, the Gold Run. In 1991, a 2-dog skijoring competition was added in which cross country skiers and their dogs race as teams.

Gold Run Results

2006 • 2005 • 2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001 • 2000 • 1999 • 1998 • 1997

Gold Run Quick Facts

Race inception

1987

Race location

Fairbanks, Alaska

Defending champions (2006)

10-dog: Rob Downey (Sellersville, Pennsylvania & Salcha, Alaska)
6-dog: Kourosh Partow (Alaska)
Skijor: Kriya Dunlap (Fairbanks, Alaska)