Dick Mackey
Encyclopedia
Dick Mackey is an American
dog musher
who won the 1,049-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race across the U.S. state
of Alaska
in 1978 by the closest margin in the history of the event. His son, Rick Mackey, became the first legacy winner when he won the race in 1983. Dick's other son, Lance Mackey
, won four consecutive Iditarods in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, becoming the second and only other legacy winner.
In 1978, Mackey pulled ahead of Rick Swenson
during the last leg of the race from Point Safety to Nome
. With less than 10 miles (16 km) to go Mackey had a 2-mile (3-km) lead, but by the time he reached the chute to the finish line along Front Street in Nome, they were neck-and-neck. While Swenson crossed the burled arch at the finish line first, Mackey had eight dogs in harness, and Swenson had only six. Since the nose of Mackey's lead dog crossed the finish line first, Marshall Myron Gavin decided in favor of Mackey. Swenson initially believed he had won, and when he learned otherwise he told Gavin, "if you made a decision, stick by it". (Sherwonit, 1991, pg. 134)
Mackey's winning time was 14 days, 18 hours, 52 minutes, and 24 seconds, and his lead dog
s were named Skipper and Shrew. Mackey competed in every Iditarod from the first in 1973 until his victory.
He later established a truck-stop in Coldfoot, Alaska
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
dog musher
Mushing
Mushing is a general term for a sport or transport method powered by dogs, and includes carting, pulka, scootering, sled dog racing, skijoring, freighting, and weight pulling. More specifically, it implies the use of one or more dogs to pull a sled on snow or a rig on dry land...
who won the 1,049-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race across the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
in 1978 by the closest margin in the history of the event. His son, Rick Mackey, became the first legacy winner when he won the race in 1983. Dick's other son, Lance Mackey
Lance Mackey
Lance Mackey is an American dog musher and dog sled racer from Fairbanks, Alaska, who is a four-time winner of the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest and four-time winner of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.-Career:...
, won four consecutive Iditarods in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, becoming the second and only other legacy winner.
In 1978, Mackey pulled ahead of Rick Swenson
Rick Swenson
For the Saskatchewan politician see Rick Swenson .Rick Swenson, sometimes known as the "King of the Iditarod", , is an American dog musher who has won the 1,049-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race across the U.S. state of Alaska more times than any other competitor...
during the last leg of the race from Point Safety to Nome
Nome, Alaska
Nome is a city in the Nome Census Area in the Unorganized Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska, located on the southern Seward Peninsula coast on Norton Sound of the Bering Sea. According to the 2010 Census, the city population was 3,598. Nome was incorporated on April 9, 1901, and was once the...
. With less than 10 miles (16 km) to go Mackey had a 2-mile (3-km) lead, but by the time he reached the chute to the finish line along Front Street in Nome, they were neck-and-neck. While Swenson crossed the burled arch at the finish line first, Mackey had eight dogs in harness, and Swenson had only six. Since the nose of Mackey's lead dog crossed the finish line first, Marshall Myron Gavin decided in favor of Mackey. Swenson initially believed he had won, and when he learned otherwise he told Gavin, "if you made a decision, stick by it". (Sherwonit, 1991, pg. 134)
Mackey's winning time was 14 days, 18 hours, 52 minutes, and 24 seconds, and his lead dog
Sled dog
Sled dogs, known also as sleigh man dogs, sledge dogs, or sleddogs, are highly trained types of dogs that are used to pull a dog sled, a wheel-less vehicle on runners also called a sled or sleigh, over snow or ice, by means of harnesses and lines.Sled dogs have become a popular winter recreation...
s were named Skipper and Shrew. Mackey competed in every Iditarod from the first in 1973 until his victory.
He later established a truck-stop in Coldfoot, Alaska
Coldfoot, Alaska
Coldfoot is a census-designated place in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. The population was 13 at the 2000 census....