Mackey's Comeback Kennel

OUR 2008 DOG BOOTIE SPONSORS
Patricia E Hanson, Cindy Cronin, Susan Underhill, Virginia McGirk, Bill & Joy Klein, Ken & Karen Fletcher, Frederick Borchert, Donna Schumacher, Iris Cantlon, SledDoggin.com, Marks Marks pack; Inky, Mimi, Gus, Gracie & Noel, Helen Hegener, June Price, Barbara and Jerry Lake - Hampton, TN,, Marlene Phillips, Linda Parlee, Cynthia E Wyatt, Donna Quante, Tommy & Denise Thomas Lakeland,FL, Romayne Kelly - Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK, Lyndy Nothstine, Jane Leschallas - Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire U.K., Carol Shaw - Princeton, La USA, Quilted Faces Seattle, Wa USA, Jan Beckstrand, Frank Hauze, Anne Lalone, George & Emilia Felty, Candace Jahelka, Nicole Rasely, Dianne Toebe, Michelle Cogburn, Robert Bibber, Barbara Chekroun, Opal Krout, Marc Sidell, The Rosemann Family, JoAnne Woolever, Lorna Harland, Bird Goodwin, Kevin Adams, Laura Boykin, Lela & Marvin Criswell, Fort Collins, CO, Janet and Bob Valenta, Pandu ( the newfoundland) and Iris (the Valley Mutt) who dream of running the iditarod & Richard Walsh Family, Kerry Pride DVM, Molly Brown, Lyndy Nothtstine, Ann Marie Garritano, MushingPros Inc., Susan McCracken, PATRICIA TODARO, Jeanne Horvath, Joann Flora, Kath Christensen, Imogene Schaeffer, Dana Baldwin, Randy & Alice Brunk, Kathleen Stouder, Sandra Taylor, Joan and Ron Short Big Stone Gap, VA, Joyce Cullen

Thank you so much for your help!
... Lance

Lance Mackey is the
2008 Iditarod Champion
The crowd cheered as Lance made his way down front street. People lined the streets of Nome for the second year in a row to welcome Lance Mackey into town. Cheers and chants "Mackey, Mackey, Mackey" echoed in the night as Lance ran down chute with his champion dog team, shaking hands and thanking spectators for coming out to see him finish.

He arrived March 12, 2008 at 02:46:48. His total was time 9 Days 11 Hours 46 Minutes 48 Seconds with "Hansom" & "Larry" in lead.

Lance has now proven that it can be done...running 2 thousand mile races back to back. It's more than luck. He's got the dogs, the training schedule and more importantly he clicks with his dogs. He's proven it 2 years in a row. Running the Yukon Quest & the Iditarod and winning them both. A champion that can "Run with dogs"
and you can bet he did RUN with them this year.

Lance Mackey, the 2008 Grand Iditarod Champion with
lead dogs "Larry" & Hansom"
photo by Dean L. Sanders

Lance tends to his team in the 2008 Quest
photo by Tonga Mackey

Lance gratefully
accepts Yukon Quest Banquet Awards
Lance Mackey accepted his $40,000 first place prize, the Dawson Award, 4 ounces of gold, the Golden Harness awards went to his 2 new up and coming sled dogs, "Rev" and Hansom". “These are the real athletes and superstars,” Mackey said before the pair donned gold harnesses and wolfed down a steak on stage. “They were the go-to guys when I needed them the most. ... Hansom’s the brains and Rev’s the speed.”

More importantly, Lance was awarded the "Veterinarian’s Choice Award". Lance was visibly choked up. To Lance, this is winning, really winning. An award chosen by the Yukon Quest’s team of 14 veterinarians for his superb dog care on the trail, the man they call “invincible”. Lance finished with 11 dogs, more happy healthy dogs than anyone else. Eleven dogs who came into checkpoints with wagging tails and eager to continue on to the next check point. “This means more to me than winning this damn race,” Mackey said, his voice breaking. “Thank-you very much.”

2008 Copper Basin 300 - Lance Mackey takes 2nd place in the 2008 Copper Basin 300, nicknamed "The Little Iditarod" by many mushers for it's diverse terrain and mix of what Iditarod might throw at you. Lance pulled into Glennallen with only 6 dogs pulling his sled. Arriving at the finish line at 14:52. You just can't say "can't" to that Mackey team. He said " I had 2 new leaders I am trying out and those two girls are in heat. I could have moved "Larry' my seasoned leader up in lead, but then what are these new leaders gonna learn from that?" he said throwing his head back" You just work with what ya got. Back at Sourdough checkpoint, I dropped four dogs because of a flu like virus going through them. They don't need to run when they don't feel good. That left me with six dogs to work with. I don't have to tell you, I worked my butt off to help them, we are a team. I ran behind that sled all the way to the finish line". Lance says with closed eyes, no doubt re-living some of the effort it took to get to the finish line.
Click here for complete race updates

Lance tends to his dogs on one of two 6 hour layovers

Lance wins Gin Gin 200 - Dec 31, 2007
Lance agreed that the Gin Gin 200 is an up and coming favorite sled dog race. Running from Paxson Lodge to Maclaren Lodge with a 110 mile loop added in and then back to Paxson Lodge .Lance said "you can almost always count on good snow in the Denali area" and another musher added "the trail was great for gearing up for long distance races". In this race mushers had to carry their gear throughout the race. There were no food drops in the Gin Gin 200. This made mushers plan carefully what they needed in their sleds and left no room for unneeded items.

The race opened its doors to a men's division this year for the first time and extended the trail from 120 miles to 200, making it a Yukon Quest and an Iditarod qualifier.

Temperatures were ideal for the dogs, at a crisp -20 for most of the race. The front runners encountered 65 mph winds as they passed through the last few miles of the Denali Highway near the finish line. One musher said she hunkered down and wrapped her arms around her handle bars to keep from getting blown off her sled. By the time the middle of the pack past through that area the winds had died down considerably, the only sign was multiple mounds of snow drifts dotting the trail. Two mushers had to scratch due to some dog issues, but remained on the trail to complete the 200 mile race route, driving their teams into Paxson late Sunday evening to a small cheering of spectators.

Lance was the fisrt to cross the finish line in the men's divison with a time of 33:44.

Complete 2007 Gin Gin 200 Race results:

Men's Division (1) Lance Mackey - 33:44 (2) Bill Steyer - 36:41 (3) Sonny Linder - 37:32 (4) Ed Hopkins - 38:11 (5) Sebastian Schnuelle - 38:24 (6) Mike Ellis - 39:09 (7) Mike Mayer - 39:20 (8) Danny Seavy - 39:30 (9) Sam Dietour - 39:44 (10) Andrew Davies - 41:01 (11) Rich Corcoran - 41:31 (12) Braxton Peterson - 41:32 (13) Jacob Dries - 42:09 (14) Rick Holt - 42:48 (15) Jeremy Matrishon -44:05 (16) Andreas Moser - 44:10 (17) Dave Treasure - 44:30 (18) Mike Barnett - 48:04 (19) Dale Curry - 50:59

Women's Division (1) Jodi Bailey - 33:24; (2) Zoya DeNure - 33:46 ; (3) Judy Currier - 34:50 ; (4) Molly Yazwinski - 35:48; (5) Michelle Phillips - 36:16 ; (6) Kelley Griffin - 38:29 ; (7) Casie Stockdale - 38:34; (8) Iris Wood - 41:37 ; (9) Julie Estey - 49:38 (10) Alyssa Quaile - 55:46; (11) Laura Davis - 55:46; (12) Carol Blevins - 57:08 ;

Scratched: Heidi Sutter & Rebecca Savadis

The annual Mackey fundraiser was a success!
The 4th annual Mackey fundraiser held at the Alpine Lodge in Fairbanks, Alaska was a booming success. We would like to thank everyone that attended, all those that generously donated items to auction and all the volunteers that helped pull it all together. We simply could not have done it without you. Thank you for your support and friendship
- Lance & Tonga Mackey

4th Annual Mackey Fundraiser
Yukon Quest/Iditarod Racing Team

WHEN: October 27th 2007
WHERE: Alpine Lodge Fairbanks, Alaska
TIME: 5 pm till 9pm
TICKETS: $12.95 Adults/ $10.95 Children 12 & under. This includes a catered buffet dinner.
LODGING: If you are coming in from out of town, the Alpine Lodge is offering a special on rooms for $59.00 per night.

Enjoy a wonderful dinner at the Alpine Lodge with Idita-Quest Champion Lance Mackey. There will be door prizes and 3 fundraiser auctions - silent, Chinese & out cry.. Prepare to have fun and bid, bid, bid.

WANT TO DONATE? If you would like to help our fundraiser auction with auction items E-mail Tonya Mackey.

A gift from the heart
It was by chance that these two people met at a Cantwell Cafe.

Clem is a proud Northern Cheyenne Indian, who at the time, operated the “Time to Eat Café” in Cantwell, Alaska. She loved mixing it up with folks that came into the café. One customer in particular was a dog musher named Lance Mackey. Clem was so intrigued by Lance’s life that she wanted to know more and more. Each time he dropped into the café for a meal they would talk. They quickly became friends. As a former rodeo competitor, Clem was impressed by the similarities between sleddogs and horses.

One day Clem was showing off a beautiful traditional native vest, hand beaded with custom buttons that she had made. Lance grinned at Clem with his glacier blue eyes “that’s a cool vest Clem, how does a guy like me get one of those?”. Clem replied quickly and rather sharply “Well my dear Lance, I tell you what, if you win the Iditarod, I will make you one”.

Several months later Lance Mackey did just that, he won the Iditarod, becoming the first musher to EVER win both long distance races, the Quest and the Iditarod in the same year. Clem was good on her word, Lance was like family to her by now. She asked a friend to tan her up an exceptional piece of elk hide and she began crafting Lance his very own Cheynne vest. A gift given for the most accomplished feats, a gift given with true and deep meaning and usually reserved for tribe members. Lance’s race record qualified. It wasn't easy sewing through that tough hide but she did. She even added some details that would be meaningful to Lance. Under each little leather flap was artwork depicting a winning race that Lance had acquired, the Cantwell Classic, the Sheep Mountain 150, the Yukon Quest and of course the Iditarod. When it was done she called Lance up “I have a gift for you next time you are in Cantwell”. Saying it casually so as not to spoil the surprise “I’ll be through that way next week” Lance responded. “What do you have?” he said with some interest. “something just for you, I think you will like it” and she quickly got off the phone.

When Lance walked into the café the following week Clem quietly handed him the vest. Cut from the hide of an elk, all hand sewn and hand beaded. It was beautiful and detailed with such care. Everyone in the café had their eyes on Lance as he slipped the vest over his shoulders. “wow’ Clem, I can’t believe it, I love it” Lance said with immense gratitude. Clem whispered to him “ this is a gift from the heart”.

Lance & wife Tonya at the
ESPY awards in Hollywood

No ESPY in the cards
for Mackey this year
Although Lance Mackey is not coming home with the EPSY award "Best Outdoor Athlete" that he was so honored to be nominated for, he is still proud to have been considered and thrilled to have been invited to Holloywood where he has been mingling with champs in all sports. " It's just a pleasure to be among them" Lance smiles " In my wildest dreams I would not have guessed I'd be here. It's not just about the award, we have raised a good some of money for the V Foundation for Cancer Research, and that is ten fold more important to me". Alaskans already know he's a champ and an incrediable athlete. The ESPY award would have been icing on the cake.

Watch the entire awards coverage on ESPN Sunday July 15th at 9pm ET

Lance stops to chat with Govener Sarah Palin
photo courtesy of June Price

2008 Iditarod
Cloudly, rainy weather did not slow down festivities for the annual volunteer picnic and official first day to sign up for the 2008 Iditarod.

Lance along with 71 other mushers took advantage of the first day of sign up at Iditarod headquarters for the 2008 Last Great Race, even with the tremendous increase in entry fees. The cost roughly doubled this year to $3,000. A shock to manys mushers budget. Lance was 11th to sign up and younger brother Jason signed up 53rd for the 2008 Iditarod.

Lance is nominated for an ESPY - We are thrilled to announce that Lance Mackey has been selected as an ESPY nominee in the category of "Best Outdoors Athlete". The ESPY Awards are the one night each year where athletes from all sports join together to celebrate the best moments of the year. The ESPY Awards take place on Wednesday, July 11th at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, CA. The show is hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and LeBron James and promises to be extraordinary. Fans will have the chance to select the winners by voting online at http://www.espn.com, keyword ESPY from June 25 through July 7 at midnight ET. All proceeds from the ESPY Awards and related events benefit the V Foundation for Cancer Research in memory of the late Jim Valvano.

The ESPY Awards is an annual sports awards event created and broadcast by American cable television network ESPN. Begun in 1993, the event confers eponymous awards, fully styled as Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards, for individual and team athletic achievement and other sports-related performance during the calendar year preceding a given ceremony.

From their inception until 2004, the awards were chosen variously through voting by fans; sportswriters, broadcasters, sports executives, and sportspersons, collectively experts; or ESPN personalities. Award winners have been selected thereafter exclusively through online fan balloting conducted from amongst candidates selected the ESPY Select Nominating Committee.

Lance hits a line ball past 2nd base

Play Ball
What should have been a night of well known Alaskan athletes and celebrities enjoying an invite to a Glacier Pilots game at Mulchahy Stadium in Anchorage, Alaska, turned into a game of celebrity baseball.

It was Alaskan athelete appreciation night and the Glacier Pilots had a game lined up, only the opposing team had a conflict game and was unable to show. What to do? The organizers scambled to solve the problem. Asking the atheletes if they would consider playing a fun game with the Glacier Pilots. They agreed and the crowd cheered. Lance threw out the first ball and the game roared on. Govenener Sarah Palin, a good sport, played coach, cheering on her team mates as they slammed balls across the field. She even took her turn a bat.

Like a neighborhood evening ball game, friends playing friends. All smiles and playful jabs at opponets. No ones seems to remember the final score or for that matter who won. We do know that everyone had a good time.

More photos click here

Pet appreciation with Home Depot

June 23, 2007 - The Wasilla, Alaska Home Depot hosted a Pet Appreciation event with the local pet adoption agencies and special guests; author Mike Dillingham and Iditarod/Yukon Quest champion Lance Mackey. A steady flow of visitors came through to see the puppies, dogs and celebrities.

In addition to the success of the celebrity visit, several pets found new permanent homes which made everyone happy. Home Depot manager Keith Blaha seen here with Lance Mackey was the man who organized the event. Thanks Keith!

Glacier Pilots-Alaskan Athelete Night
Join Lance along with several other Alaskan athletes at Muchahy Stadium with the Glacier Pilots for Alaskan Athelete Night, Saturday June 23rd, Anchorage, Alaska. Lance will be available for autographs and chat during the game. Bring your favorite photo or T-shirt for Lance to sign.

Directions to Mulcahy Stadium: When on A Street heading towards downtown, take a right at 16th Avenue where you will see a sign just like the one in the middle of this page. If you are coming off Gambell, as you cross 15th Avenue be sure that you watch for our sign on your right - it comes up real fast - the park is just seconds away.

Home Depot joins the "Mackey Team"
Lance has been out of the state for a week or more attending a conference and having some fun. He will be returning to Alaska just in time to attend a couple of great event this weekend. This Saturday, June 23rd, Lance will be appearing at two events in the Anchorage, AK area. Come out and enjoy the festivities...and don't miss your chance to catch up with the Iditarod/Yukon Quest champion! Pet Appreciation Day at Home Depot Wasilla, Alaska 12 noon- 3pm. Mike Dillingham will be there with Rivers (book about Rivers), there will be a dog obedience demonstration, police K-9 dogs, dogs available for adoption and...Lance Mackey will be there for photos and autographs. Special thanks to Keith at Home Depot Wasilla and Donna Quante for inviting Lance to this event.

Lance receives Team & Trail " Musher of the Year Award"
June 2007 Reno, Nevada
The 2007 annual ISDRA meeting and banquet was held on June 15th - 17th in Reno, Nevada. Mushers gathered to hear a variety of speakers, talk with vendors and chat with other mushers. Lance was invited to the two day event as the guest speaker. He shared his training ideas, racing skills as well as answered questions to a crowd of over 85 people. At the banquet he was honored with the Team & Trail "Musher of the year" award.

Lance & Will Peterson chat at the KAKM
studio in Anchorage, Alaska

Lance & Zorro supporting
public television
Lance Mackey appeared live on KAKM (Anchorage, AK) tonight during the premiere broadcast of the newly released Iditarod video "As Tough As They Come".

Along with Lance, "Zorro" made a special appearance live in the KAKM studio. For those fans that have been worried about "Zorro's" health after he was dropped from this years Iditarod, rest assured "Zorro" is happy & healthy as a horse. He even left a nice deposit (#2) in the studio and marked darn near every tree behind the studio. Zorro is Lance's primary stud and has contributed greatly to the team. Zorro was lively, alert and a bit nervous with all the lights and indoor spaces - but was a great addition to the show.

Lance and his famous lead dog "Zorro"

Special thanks to Will Peterson (interim General Manager of KAKM) for inviting Lance to host the show.

During the live broadcast, Will received a call from the Iditarod Trail Committee who was proud to announce their Emmy award for their 2006 video "Mother Nature's Turn to Dance".

Congratulations!

The 2007 Bib # 1 with Lance's autograph was
auctioned off with a winning bid of $750.00

Lance helps with Wasilla fundraiser
Lance and Martin Buser teamed up with the Mat-Su community to help benefit the proposed $5 million upgrade of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough animal shelter. "As Tough As They Come" aired for the first time before a Mat-Su crowd Friday evening at the Machetanz Theatre. Lance received a standing ovation at the end of the showing.

A second playing will be Saturday at 2 pm. Tickets are $10 each.

Tickets can be purchased at the following locations;
Valley Performing Arts, Cottonwood Public Safety Building, Mat-Su Animal Care Shelter, Mat-Su Borough Building, Palmer, Wasilla Chamber of Commerce, The Machetanz Theatre is located in Wasilla Alaska at 251 W. Swanson Ave. Call (907) 373-8800 for more information. Map

Lance to host Iditarod video Edit - KAKM June Specials Include 2007 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Documentary Anchorage, AK (May 29) - Public television station KAKM Channel 7 plans to air several special programs in June during its summer membership drive, including the 2007 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race documentary, AS TOUGH AS THEY COME, produced by the Iditarod Trail Committee. Lance Mackey, winner of the 2007 race, will host the documentary's premiere live from the KAKM studios on Saturday, June 2 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The program will repeat on Wednesday, June 6 at 8:30 p.m. The first Iditarod documentary produced by the committee, IDITAROD 2006: MOTHER NATURE'S TURN TO DANCE, was nominated for an Emmy Award by the Northwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and has aired on KAKM. The 2007 race has been characterized "as tough as they come." According to producers of the documentary, "Lucky number 13 will forever be the brand associated with Lance Mackey's 2007 victory. His team's unbelievable win shattered myths and raised the bar at a level that will definitely stand out as one of the most historic years in sled dog race history." Other programs airing during this special on-air fundraising period for public television include the KAKM production of FOURTH AVENUE: THE STREET THAT WAS THE WHOLE TOWN and KLONDIKE ALASKA: A RAIL HISTORY produced by Fairbanks public television station KUAC. New musicals are also planned, including THE BEACH BOYS ENDLESS HARMONY, THE BEST 25 YEARS OF POP, and SAM COOK: LEGEND. Visit www.kakm.org for schedule details. KAKM will use funds from the $100,000 Conoco-Phillips Challenge Grant provided earlier in the year to encourage viewers to become financial supporters of the station. Approximately 75 percent of KAKM's operating funds come from local viewers and program sponsors, yet less than 10 percent of viewers are actual supporters. For More Information Contact:Ronnie Dent at (907) 550-8400

MACKEY'S GO TO RENO
Lance will be speaking at DOGPOWER 2007 June 15-17 1st Western Regional Dog Powered Sports Conference & 2007 ISDRA MeetingPeppermill Hotel and Casino Reno, NVFor more information go to fourteenangelsfoundation.com or call 530-846-4444Thanks so much!!

photo by K.Kastner

Lance Mackey meets fans at Anchorage mall
Lance was in Anchorage, Alaska Tuesday, 22 May 2007, for an official luncheon with Iditarod sponsors. He visited the Iditarod Store inside the 5th Avenue Mall in downtown Anchorage to meet fans, sign autographs and visit with the public.

Fans of all ages and locations were on sight to meet the first ever same-year Iditarod and Yukon Quest champion. Lance was very gracious and autographed T-shirts, jackets, calendars and even a bundle of more than 25 cards and notes from an elementary school in Washington State.

Lance runs into musher Zack Steer & his family
at the Palmer State Forest Service open house

Mackey & Smokey
the Bear Team Up
Lance was invited to the annual Palmer State Forest Service open house. He spent the day teaming up with Smokey the Bear, getting the word out about fire safety and prevention. Iditarod fans congratulated Lance on his 2007 race season and took the opportunity to get autographs and photos with Smokey and the famous musher. While there, the crowd got to see the forest service in action, when a call came in that a brush fire at Lake Creek was endangering structures. The crew jumped into full swing, piling needed fire fighting gear into an awaiting helicopter and headed for the Skwentna airport so they could set up a base camp. The fire was under control within 4 hours using a helicopter with bucket drops and a dozen ground crew firefighters. Approximately 10 acres had burnt. Mop up was expected to take a few days.

A Champion and his leaders

Video by Scott Slone

Photo by Brenda Borden

Lance Wins Iditarod 2007
A double victory year for Lance Mackey. From Whitehorse to Nome, he has proven that grit, training, determination, a lucky number and a great dog team can win two championship races back to back.

See more interviews and updates at Dogsled.com

Lance greets Paul Gebhardt (video)
Lance under the arch (video)

Lance photo provided by www.cooldreams.net and available for purchase at www.duesouthphoto.com

Live Finish Tonight!
Lucky number 13 is proving its power as Lance Mackey could be the first to cross the Burled Arch in dramatic style tonight! Mackey set out to win this race with fierce determination, and maybe a little superstition: both his father and his brother won before him wearing bib #13. Now, Lance could be the third Mackey to win the Iditarod sporting bib #13 himself. All this is happening on the 13th day of March 2007!

1st Place Race Finish, Anticipated for 6:30 - 7pm AST
http://www.dogsled.com/ or at
Visit Iditarod's official web site with their insider live finish

Lance gives a thumbs up to the crowd

Iditarod 2007 Blast Off!
Jazzed and confident that he has a team to do VERY well this year. Lance chatters to his handlers about all the wagging tails surrounding him. "These dogs are great, if they weren't even my dogs I'd be bragging about them". Lance says" this type of team only comes along once in a lifetime. I am so impressed and so proud with what they are doing."

This 3 time Yukon Quest Champion is hoping to get to Nome in the top ten and if he can the number one spot. he says " I really need a new truck, every race I go to I have truck issues. For once I'd like to worry about something else besides truck repairs."

Lance is wearing "Lucky" bib #13 this year

Follow the race
Current Iditarod race updates

3 Time Champ Mackey proves he's got it! Tuesday, 20 February 2007
10 days, 4 hours, 3 minutes, shattering the previous Quest record by Frank Turner in 1995 of 10 days, 16 hours, 20 minutes. Lance was the first to cross the 2007 Yukon Quest finish line today at 13:58. For the third time in a row, he knows his training and hard work has paid off.

Quest Updates & Official web site

Temperatures reached a brisk twenty below today in downtown Fairbanks with the sun warming spectators who lined up along the trail to see the champ come in. Lance pushed his sled into town, his team looking fresh and strong and a grin only Lance can give, rolled across his frosted face. The crowd roared, proud friends and family cheered him on. "I've got a once in a life time team right now" Lance says with pride "It's totally unbelievable what these dogs can do, I feel honored to be part of this team".

Lance talks about his 2007 Quest

Lance at the start of the Cantwell Classic 200

2007 Kuskokwim 300 Mushers Set to Race
A star-studded field of racers will assemble January 20th, for the 27th run of the Kuskokwim 300 in Bethel. Included in the field of 22 mushers are 10 of last year’s top 15 Iditarod finishers, and numerous champions from the Iditarod, Yukon Quest, and Kuskokwim 300. Lance Mackey will be among them. The are 2 father/son teams, Martin Buser and his son Rohn and Mike Williams Sr and Mike Williams Jr are entered in this years race. There is a $100,000 purse to make it worth their while.

Click here to listen to Lance & the Kusko 300
(MP3 2.65 mb)

Follow the Kusko 300 race

Lance with "Time To Eat Cafe" owner Clem

Lance Mackey wins 2007 Cantwell Classic
Musher Lance Mackey, 2 time champion of the Yukon Quest and top contender in the Iditarod for the past several years, was the first to arrive in Cantwell for the Cantwell Classic 200 (watch video) . As he crossed the finish line, dogs full steam and looking like they were ready for another 100 miles of running - Lance turned to the small crowd gathered, a thick frost covering his mustache a little after 2AM Sunday morning and said grinning ear to ear, "that was fun". After a quick hug from family and friends, he turned to tending his dogs, hugged his wife Tonya and congratulated his son Cane for his 4th place finish in the Junior Cantwell Classic.

older news?...read here....

MACKEY'S WELCOME ABOARD REDPAW FEEDS
Lance would like to welcome his newest sponsor, Redpaw feeds, to the Mackey Comeback Kennel. Many mushers think of dog food as a commodity like gasoline, and make their buying decision based on price.

However, all dog foods are not the same. Lance Mackey agrees. Would you buy a brand of gas that cost half as much but got half the mileage and increased maintenance costs? Of course not, but that's exactly what you do when you buy inferior dog foods.

What if one brand of gas gave significantly better fuel efficiency? How would that affect your buying decision? What if it also decreased maintenance costs, kept tread on your tires longer, reduced emissions, increased engine power, and even made your car or truck look better? You'd buy that gasoline even if it cost a little more, right?

Lance's choice of Redpaw dog foods WILL provide better results from his dogs. If better performance, better feet, better coats, better stools, and better health for your dogs is not important to you then that's your choice. Redpaw is sure that their customers feeding Redpaw feeds will be polite as they pass you on the trail...

Redpaw now offers a 30-day risk-free trial! Click here for details and dealers near you

Redpaw Feed has always believed that they produce the highest performance dog foods available. That’s why they are proud to offer a 30-day risk-free trial. Feed a bag of any Redpaw product to one dog for 30 days and if you don’t feel it outperforms your current feed they'll give you your money back!

SPONSORS INVITE:
All sponsor at the $1,000 dollar level or more will receive one Iditarod banquet ticket at the Mackey family table.

Contact us at:
Mackey's
PO Box 10262
Fairbanks, Alaska 99710
or E-mail us - Click Here

LANCE PLANS ANOTHER GO AT THE QUEST
A move to Fairbanks was no mistake, but rather a plan to be closer to the heart of Lance's races. Lance is first to sign up for the 2007 Yukon Quest to defend his title. Lance is already signed up for the 2007 Iditarod.

Lance says "We breed and raise all of our team members, most are from "Zorro" or "Hobo" - they are mostly all related. The 2007 Yukon Quest team will be a young inexperienced group, but very eager, and faster than any team I've ever raced. The team will mostly be males around 50 pounds. Most all of these young dogs were raised on Red Paw Dog Food, and Ophir Gold Supplements, a winning combination! On and off the trail.

BIG MOVES & SHAKES
Lance and his wife Tonya have made a big change in life & location .They moved to the heart of the dog mushing world, Fairbanks, Alaska. They plan to keep their close ties with friends & family in Kenai area and will spend much of their training at their cabin in the Caribou Hills. Lance was first to sign up for the 2007 Iditarod and the Yukon Quest. He is hoping to be first in line to sign up for all the races he will run this season.

Lance talks to Ch 2 News about his plans
for this years race season.
Photo by Jlona Richey - Tracks of Alaska

LANCE IS SIGNED UP FOR 2007 IDITAROD
Lance Mackey, did what he set out to do. Be first to sign up for the 2007 Iditarod Sled Dog Race at the volunteer picnic June 24th. Camping out in front of race headquarters for a couple of weeks to secure that first position.

Lance is one of 70 mushers that opted to sign up on the first day and visit with the volunteers & supporters at Iditarod Headquarters in Wasilla, Alaska.

Lance with Ron Boyle (left) who sold him the bike
and another employee from Kenai Peninsula
Harley Davidson (right)

Dog Power to Hog Power
Following the Kobuk 440 sled dog race, and a season of hard training, Lance needed to treat himself to something he has always wanted. So he bought himself a used Harley.

Even as a child growing up Lance's mom would always buy him Harley toys, phones, cards, just about anything she could find with the word Harley on it .

Lance taking my best friend Tima Diaz for a ride.

Lance is in hog heaven and looks for every reason to go somewhere on his motorcycle. He grins from ear to ear offering friends "Harley" rides.

Lance has now joined up with the local bike group H.O.G. (Harley owners group) along with the Alaska A.B.A.T.E. Club.

They all rode into Anchorage this past month where they meet up with the valley bikers to go to Alaska Regional Hospital to donate a check for the Shriners. They all had stuffed animals strapped to their bikes and were very excited to get on the road.

Lance with his stuffed animal on his bike.

Lance will be doing alot more fundraising with the club, including the groups like "Toys for Tots" and more. Stay tuned....

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Mackey's Comeback Kennel would like to give a very special "Thank You" for your support with this years racing season. Without your support our kennel, would not be as successful as it is today.

We have had a record year with the number of races completed. Our dog sales increased and our prize money increased. As with all sports and competitors, we are already thinking of how to improve next year. Our race plans: Click Here (PDF)

One way is to be at the top of the sign-up list in every race, which bring us to The Iditarod. The first day of sign-up is the 24th of June 2006. lt is important to sign-up early for many reasons, 1st - is the chance to win your entry fee back, this years entry may be as much as $2500.00. 2nd- We also get to pick our starting number as opposed to drawing random numbers. Mushers will pick in the order of sign-up, so Lance will be camping at lditarod Race Headquarters in Wasilla for a few weeks prior to sign-up to assure a good starting
position. Dick & Rick Mackey both won the lditarod on there 6th try wearing bib #13, so our goal, since it is the 6th try is to draw # 13 the "Mackey's"lucky number.

2006 Iditarod sign-up day & volunteer picnic

The first day of sign-up includes a huge picnic for volunteers, you get to meet the mushers, eat a BBQ catered by outback steakhouse, win lot's of door prizes,there is also a drawing for a new Dodge pick-up truck (must be present to win).

We are planning a very busy race schedule for 2006/2007 starting in December. We are also starting to plan our 2007 fundraiser for November. Any items or services you would like to donate are greatly appreciated. You may e-mail us.

We are planning a fundraising party, June 10th 2006. There will
be live music, great food, volleyball, horseshoes and lots of other fun.
Thank you, Lance & Tonya Mackey

LANCE MACKEY ARRIVING IN NOME WITH A FINISHING TIME OF:
9 Days 22 Hours 8 Minutes 38 Seconds
IN 10th PLACE

2006 PRE IDITAROD
RACE AUDIO INTERVIEW
WITH LANCE

IDITAROD 2006
THE "MACKEY WAY"
Lance is right where he wants to be on this years Iditarod trail. He has a plan and it is unfolding just as he wants it to. It's early in the race and a lot can happen before Nome, but you can be sure Lance has a smile today as he and his well oiled team of dogs run silently down the trail. He admits he is nervous that he won't live up to the chatter mushers and fans are expecting of him this year and he's excited because he KNOWS how good these dogs are. This is a dream come true for Lance, ever since he was a kid, he has wanted to be right here, right now as a musher, he has worked very hard and has the team to show for it. His dogs are incredible. There is no other word for it. His hope to become the first musher to win the Yukon Quest and Iditarod in the same year is within his reach. Follow the race updates -

LANCE PULLS
BIB # 24 FOR START OF 2006 IDITARD
Lance was the star of this years Iditarod pre-race banquet. Fans were all over this 2 time Yukon Quest Champ. If it wasn't a photo moment it was an autograph they were after ...booklets, clothing, and magazines, Lance enjoyed every minute " I don't mind at all. I love it. This is part of what dog racing is all about if things go right " smiling that sheepish grin as the next fan runs up to wish him well." It's the Mackey way".

Over 2,000 fans gathered to meet & greet this years Iditarod mushers at the pre-race banquet. Hobo Jim sang to the crowd, old friends hugged, it's like family. Generations of mushers growing and passing the torch each year, year after year.

LANCE WINS THE QUEST!!!
For the second year in a row, Lance has grabbed the Yukon Quest title, arriving in Dawson City Feb 21st at 20:29

VIDEO CLIP OF FINISH

In "Mackey" style, Lance gave fans an exciting race through & though. Hans Gatt and William Kleedehn nipped at his heels at every checkpoint. Lance seemed to enjoy the chase and knew his dogs were up to the challenge.
Lance just grins ear to ear saying " I'm so proud of my dogs" "just look at them".They truely are the winners but it takes a musher like Lance to pull it all together and make a team "click" as well as they do. He has worked hard for this win.

His father, Iditarod legend Dick Mackey arrived in Dawson City Monday evening to surprise Lance at the finish line. He was awaiting news on Lance's arrival at the Dawson City checkpoint on Tuesday morning. This is definetly a proud day for the entire Mackey clan.

Lance tells the story to Quest & family

The next challenge for this determined, well oiled musher and dog team, the Iditarod sled dog race starting March 4th in Anchorage!

FIRST INTO PELLY CROSSING
Feb. 20, 12:00 am
Mackey arrived into Pelly at 9:41 pm YKST. With a barking dog team, lunging into their harnesses, Mackey smiled and said 'That's the sound of success right there!'. Mackey told checkpoint volunteers he was staying, but not for long. 'I'm going to feed the dogs and myself and get out of here.' PELLY CROSSING VIDEO

Yukon Quest vist their official web site for race updates.

Mackey sets record with sizzling run from Eagle By ERIC GOOLD, Staff Writer DAWSON CITY, Yukon--Weather has been tearing up the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race trail this year.

Lance Mackey took his turn Thursday. The defending champion absolutely scorched the trail on the 150-mile run from Eagle, obliterating the previous record for the run by about five hours before bedding down in this historic gold rush town for his 36-hour mandatory layover.

Quest Race Finish to be altered
Quest website : February 17, 2006
Race Marshal Mike McCowan announced early Friday morning that the 2006 Yukon Quest will not follow the traditional Yukon Quest Trail to Whitehorse. At 1:00 pm (local time), the Race Marshal, his judges and the mushers remaining in the race will attend a closed-door meeting in Dawson City to brief mushers on the revised trail routing. At 2:00 pm (local time) the regular mushers' meeting will take place in the Dawson City Checkpoint. This meeting is open to the media and general public, and the Race Marshal will announce the decision regarding the revised trail routing.

FIRST INTO DAWSON: At 2:45 Yukon time, Lance Mackey entered the town of Dawson and officially signed in at the checkpoint at 2:47 pm Yukon Time.

Race Marshall, Mike McCowan was first to greet Lance at the finish line while the veterinarians looked over the team. When asked how his run from Eagle was, Lance replied 'Long! It felt a lot shorter going the other way last year.' Reporters also asked Lance if being first into Dawson was a big deal for him. Mackey replied, 'It's a great feeling, but the big prize it at the end of the race. This is great, but it's just icing.'
Lance will win the 'First Into Dawson' award if he finishes the race. The winner is awarded 4 ounces of gold donated by Dawson residents Joe and Wendy Fellers to celebrate a great run and to wish the mushers luck on the trail ahead.
Lance reported no problems in his ascent up and over American Summit, commenting only that it was a bit windy as was the rest of the trail into Dawson. 'I get cold easily,' remarked Lance, 'especially in the wind. I didn't want to move because everytime I did, the wind would find an opening and chill me to the bone.'
Mackey's dogs looked great as they rolled in the snow and accepted encouragement and congratulations from Lance with wagging tails and bright eyes. Within minutes, most were barking and lunging in their harnesses to continue down the trail.
Yukon Quest vist their official web site for race updates.

QUEST VIDEO: Lance Mackey at Mile 101. A short description of his run from Angle Creek. 15 sec/ 2 meg Video: Peter Kamper Click Here

Live web cam of Quest Start
The camera seems to be very busy, you may not be able to connect!

2006 Yukon Quest:
The "Toughest Sled Dog Race in the World" starts Saturday, February 11th at 11a.m. AKST. We plan to bring you some additional coverage of the Lance's race as it happens. For official information and an introduction the Yukon Quest vist their official web site.

At the Top of the World, in the Yukon-Alaskan Interior, an epic event takes place every year that few people from "down south" have experienced. Covering 1000 miles between Whitehorse, Yukon Territory and Fairbanks, Alaska during the depths of the Arctic winter, the Yukon Quest is the "Toughest Sled Dog Race in the World."

The Yukon Quest Trail follows historic Gold Rush and Mail Delivery routes from the turn of the 20th Century. Once a travel highway of the Northern frontier, the trail comes alive each February with the breath of hundreds of sled dogs. Teams of one human 'musher' and 14 canine athletes, travel for two weeks, racing through some of the last pristine wilderness remaining in North America.

KLONDIKE 300 SLED DOG RACE - SATURDAY JANUARY 21, 2006 TUG BAR BIG LAKE, ALASKA
The 14th running of the Klondike 300 Dogsled race got underway without a hitch and on time. 400 plus dogs and 30 mushers hit the trail from the Tug Bar in Knik. Follow Lance as he races to the finish line (BIB #17)
Click here for race updates

MACKEY WINS THE 2006 COPPER BASIN 300
GLENNALLEN ALASKA JAN 16 2006 - Mackey steamed to the finish line crossing shortly before noon Monday at 11:24. Mackey now has the second fastest finish in CB300 history, finishing in 49 hours and 18 minutes. Hans Gatt holds the fastest time finishing in 48h 58m in 2002. Lance's average speed on the trail was 10.1 miles per hour.

At the start of the race his wife Tonya was explaining their truck had again broke down on the way to the start of the copper Basin. Tonya said " it's a good sign, our other truck broke down at the start of last years Quest and he won that race"...she was right.

The Copper Basin 300 is one of the premier mid-distance sled dog races in Alaska. It starts the second Saturday of every January in Glennallen, Alaska. 32 Mushers signed up with a purse of $22,000. 24 mushers remain on the trail and seven mushers have scratched.

LANCE HOLDS BACK HIS TEAM AT THE
START OF THE 2006 COPPER BASIN 300

The Copper
Basin 300 takes off
Saturady morning Lance and wife Tonya are ready for the Copper Basin to start. Inspite of another truck breakdown. "it's a good sign", says Tonya. "our truck broke down at the start of the Yukon Quest last year and Lance won" Gripping onto warm cups of hot chocolate (nicknamed handwarmers) Lance says " I'm ready for this race to get going". "I have been training hard and these dogs look good. This is my Quest team". as he proudly points to the young muscled up team.

" Judging from our training runs, I expect them to do awesome in the Copper Basin, they are definetly ready to run".

When asked about the Sheep Mountain. Lance shook his head, "I should have never started that race. The dogs were not feeling well, I could sense it, but I was hoping it was just traveling jitters. Turned out they had a bug. Throwing up and diahera, so we just packed it in and scratched. It's all you can do." "These dogs are too important to risk it".

The Copper Basin 300 is one of the premier mid-distance sled dog races in Alaska. 32 Mushers signed up with a purse of $22,000.

Click here for the Copper Basin 300 race updates

Knik 200: Jan 8th 2006 Lance places 2nd in the Knik 200 sled dog race. The Knik 200 had a record 54 mushers entered in this years race. A 200 mile race from Knik Lake to Skwentna and back. Musher Jeff King placed first. The Knik 200 was and continues to be a valuable training race as well as a qualifier for larger races such as the the Iditarod and Quest.
Click here for photos and more

SHEEP MOUNTAIN RACE UPDATES: Follow Lance Mackey in the 2005 Sheep Mountain 150-mile dogsled race between Sheep Mountain and Eureka Lodges to be held December 17-18 Click Here

Update: Nov 17, 2005
Lance reports he is doing great and thanks everyone for their good wishes. He is healing nicely and of course was out running dogs
the next day. Lance says he will be in great shape by the time the Sheep Mountain 150 sled dog race starts, scheduled for Dec 17-18. "I have no worries, I feel 100% better since the surgery" Lance says with a strong & confident voice.
Check back for updates! We will keep you posted.

Surgery on finger goes well - Lance's wife, Tonya reports "Lance is doing good" he will have to protect the wound for a few weeks until it heals but he should be ready for the Sheep Mountain 150".

Lance Scheduled
for Surgery:
Lance has been fighting an annoying pain in his left index finger for sometime. Doctors determined that it is a result of nerve damage related to his cancer several years ago. Continuous exposure to the cold has resulted in frostnip damage which has added to the problem.

Lance will have to have the finger amputated at the knuckle. Surgery is scheduled for November 9th at the Soldotna Hospital. This will put him out of training for several weeks but Lance vows to be ready to defend his Sheep Mountain 150 title December 17 & 18.

Speaking of cancer, Lance is approaching his 5th year cancer free. A blessing in itself. He is feeling good and weighs in at a record 185 lbs. (He eats like a horse) Keep his good health in your thoughts and prayers and join us for our much needed Mackey Racing team fundraiser