Qualifications

This race is only open to dog teams. There shall be only one musher per team. All mushers must be 18 years of age or older on the day of race start to participate OR 16 years or older on race day WITH previous experience from a race over 50 mi long, which included a checkpoint. Sixteen and seventeen year olds should contact info@tdogalaska.org with their qualifying race information.

All participants must sign the T-Dog Code of Conduct and a waiver.

Entries - 25 Dog Teams Only

The T-Dog will open a waiting list once the roster is full.  Waitlisted teams will be informed of their position on the waitlist. If any spots become available, entrants will be accepted off the waitlist in the order they signed up. If a registered musher is unable to participate, but has a replacement musher who will be running a team from the same kennel, the race will allow a 1:1 musher substitution before opening that spot up to waitlisted entrants. All 1:1 substitution requests must be submitted in writing to info@tdogalaska.org.

If there is no substitution, the spot will open up to the waitlisted teams in the order they joined. Each waitlisted team will be contacted via email and will be given 24 hours from notification to claim their spot. If the open spot goes unclaimed, it will be offered to the next team on the waitlist. 

Race Registration

Registration for the 2026 T-Dog Races will open on October 17, 2025 At 7pm Alaska time. Last day to register for the race is March 1, 2026.

Entry Fee

The entry fee for the race is $300. Beginning on registration day, $200 of the entry fee shall be refundable. Beginning four weeks prior to the race, $100 of the fee shall be refundable.  Once registration is closed, no refund will be issued.

Mushers are welcome to “drop down” to the T-Dog 50 or T-Dog 120 at any point. If a team opts to drop down before registration closes, they will be refunded their entry fee difference. If a team opts to drop down after registration closes, they shall not be refunded the entry fee difference. 

To declare registration cancellation, entrants must send an email (info@tdogalaska.org) to establish the cancellation date, refund amount, and removal from the entrant list.

Prizes

There is no monetary purse. Prizes for finishers will be donated items from the community. The 1st place finisher of the T-Dog 200 shall have their name and finish time engraved on the T-Dog trophy.

Vet Checks

There will be a mandatory vet check.  The date will be announced closer to the race date.

This veterinary check will include a full hands-on exam of each dog and confirming vaccine documentation. Participants will sign up for slots via an online form. 

Straw

The race will provide one bale of straw for each team in each of the Minto and Nenana checkpoints. 

Participants/handlers should plan to bring their own trash bags for used straw.

Drop Bags

Drop bag collection details will be posted at a later date. Each musher is allowed one drop bag per checkpoint.  Handlers are responsible for used drop bags.  

Day 1 (Manley - Tolovana Roadhouse - Minto)

Mushers must start in Manley Hot Springs between 8am and 10am on Saturday, March 21.

Mushers must arrive in Minto between 8pm and midnight on Saturday, March 21.

The first leg is not timed and time spent on the trail and/or in the Minto checkpoint will not be considered in the team’s finishing time or position. While teams are encouraged to rest during the first ~80-mile run, it is not required or monitored by race officials.

Please note: The first leg (Manley Hot Springs - Minto) is completely self-supported. Mushers must carry all their food, straw, and supplies. The use of snow machine assistance is prohibited. Mushers must bring all mandatory gear for the first leg, and there will be a gear check immediately upon arrival at the Minto checkpoint.

Note: there is a hospitality stop open to all at the Tolovana Roadhouse ~30 miles down the trail from Manley Hot Springs. This is not an official checkpoint.

Minto Checkpoint

The Sourdough start will take place at 8am on Sunday, March 22nd. All teams must be out of Minto by 9am.

Handlers may assist their team in any way during their layover.  Handlers MUST be present at least one hour before the Sourdough Start.

Mushers and handlers may rest in their vehicles or inside the checkpoint building.

Handlers are responsible for caring for dropped dogs and for cleaning up their musher’s parking area after they have left. 

Day 2 (Minto - Nenana - Fairbanks)

The second leg of the race will be timed and finish positions will be determined by this second leg only. 

Teams will run ~50 miles from Minto to Nenana through the Minto flats.  During the second leg of the race, mushers must take a mandatory four-hour rest in the Nenana checkpoint. After the mandatory rest, teams will run ~50 miles from Nenana to Trail Breaker Kennel in Fairbanks to finish the race. 

Nenana Checkpoint

The Nenana checkpoint is at the Artisan Market at 415 Riverfront, Nenana, AK 99760. 

The race will deliver drop bags to the Nenana checkpoint. 

Teams must rest for a minimum of 4 hours in the Nenana checkpoint.

Handlers may NOT assist their musher with dog care in the Nenana checkpoint. 

Handlers must be present at the Nenana checkpoint at least 30 minutes before their musher’s estimated departure time. Handlers are responsible for caring for dropped dogs and for cleaning up their musher’s parking area after they have left.

Finish

The race will finish at Trail Breaker Kennel, located at 5880 Airport Industrial Rd, Fairbanks, Alaska 99709.