American Dog Derby mushers and their racing canines will tear down Ashton streets on Valentine’s Day weekend during the annual event.
Event organizer and Ashton City Councilman John Scafe made the announcement on Wednesday about the event scheduled for the sweetest weekend of the year.
Should there not be continued snowfall, Scafe said there is still plenty of the white stuff in Ashton’s adjacent fields that volunteers can haul into town.
“The committee is trying to do all that, put snow down on Main Street like it used to be,” he said.
A lack of snow forced the event up to Bear Gulch last year, but it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas for Valentine’s Day weekend, Scafe said.
“It’s looking more positive every day,” he said. “We’re hoping it snows beforehand, so it will be piled in the streets here. The timing’s got to be just right.”
Currently, five mushers and two skijourners have signed up for the race. Skijouring involves someone on skis being pulled by a dog.
The racers hail from Utah, Montana, Idaho, and Colorado. Several years ago, a Minnesota musher participated while a Finland racer also joined.
“He was making a tour of the United States,” Scafe said.
Scafe expects more mushers to register, and they can do so right before the race starts.
“A race cancelled in Oregon, and we’re hoping a lot of those racers will come over to ours,” he said. “Mushers are a different breed of people. They’ll travel miles to do this stuff. I’ve got to praise them for all they do. They just do a great job.”
The hope is to make the dog derby more of a recreational than professional race for mushers, Scafe said.
“There’s not a lot of pressure here,” he said. “They’re here to have fun and for training. They visit with other mushers for information and tips on how to do better.”
The first race starts at 8:30 a.m. Valentines Day on Main Street. At that time, racers will shoot out of the starting line at two-minute intervals. Between noon and 2 p.m., the teams will return to town.
On Saturday, the races will start again at 8:30 a.m. An hour later, visitors may sign up for the annual Kids’ Snowshoe Race, Mutt Race and Weight Pull.
Scafe urged pet owners to register for each race at least half an hour before the event. He also asked that dogs be leashed while waiting turns for their respective races.
“If you have a female in heat, please leave her home,” he said.
The Snowshoe Race starts at 10:30 a.m. and will be followed by the Mutt Race at 11 a.m. At 12:30 p.m., the Weight Pull will be held. Last year, these races were cancelled due to the dog derby being held at Bear Gulch.
Scafe expects up to 45 mushers to attend the event. Those mushers usually bring with them an extra 150 people into Ashton which improves the community’s cash flow.
“On Saturday, the businesses can usually do pretty good,” he said. “The restaurants and Airbnb's do more than anybody else, there’s a slight increase in the economy.”
The event also boosts residents’ spirits, Scafe said.
“I like the morale; it seems it is always better (during the races),” he said.
Between now and Valentine’s Day, Scafe will continue to organize the event.
“I’ve got a lot of leg work to do, a lot of preliminary work, advertising, fundraising, checking with vendors,” he said.
Scafe will also beseech the heavens by doing a “snow dance,” he said.
“We need a little bit more,” he said. “A foot or so at least.”
For now, plans call to hold the dog derby in downtown Ashton, Scafe said.
“You’re hoping it’s going to work. It’s always guess and by golly,” he said. “I’ve got confidence in it though.”
For more information on the upcoming American Dog Derby visit americandogderby.com.
