Yukon Quest attracts former champion Gatt, increases purse
WHITEHORSE - A three-time Yukon Quest champion has again signed up for the race, despite his claim that he wanted to focus on the Iditarod Sled Dog Race.
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Canadian Hans Gatt said winning the Iditarod is one of his last goals in mushing, but he called the Yukon Quest his favorite race.
"I love the dogs, the lifestyle and the competition," he said. "I enjoy most to be out on the trail, all alone with my dog team."
Gatt, of Atlin, British Columbia, won the Whitehorse-to-Fairbanks race in 2002, 2003 and 2004. He took a year off to focus on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in 2005.
He returned to the Quest in 2006, placing second in 10 days, 8 hours, 59 minutes.
Gatt has run the Anchorage-to-Nome Iditarod seven times. His best finish, 12th, was in 2000.
He finished in 36th place last year and is signed up for the 2007 race.
Gatt said he had dominated other races, including the Yukon Quest, until last year.
"I didn't really have to race against anybody," Gatt said.
This year was different. He was trounced by two-time champion Lance Mackey of Kasilof, Alaska, who will be back in 2007.
Twenty-five mushers have signed up for the race next year including the top nine finishers from 2006: Mackey, Gatt, William Kleedehn, David Dalton, Gerry Willomitzer, Sebastian Schnuelle, Kelley Griffin, Michelle Phillips and Richie Beattie.
Only 11 mushers of the 22 at the starting line completed the race in brutal conditions that included blizzard and whiteout situations on the Alaska side, an air rescue of five mushers off Eagle Summit and a race reroute that saw the finish line move to Dawson City.
Both the start number and the finish number were record lows for the race.
Other notables signed up for the February 2007 race include Hugh Neff, who was forced to withdraw at the Dawson City layover this year, and Frank Turner who retired in 2005 after running every Quest until that point.
"It's a great slate," said Robin Round, the race's president. "It raises the bar on the running of the race."
The veteran presence will make 2007 more competitive and an exciting experience for mushers and Quest-watchers, she said.
She credited the renewed interest to the $75,000 increase in prize money.
There is now $200,000 available, with the winner taking home $40,000. That's $10,000 more than the previous $30,000 first-place award.
Second place is $30,000, up from $24,000, and third place will be awarded $22,000.