Mackey looks to other mushing circuits in 2011

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – Defending Iditarod champion Lance
Mackey, who also has won the Yukon Quest four times, plans to
bypass both long-distance sled dog races next year and focus on the
lower 48 mushing circuit.
Mackey says he wants to experience such events as the 345-mile
International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race, which goes to 10
Wyoming towns before ending in Utah.
But Mackey adds that if he wins his fourth consecutive Iditarod
this month, it would be “pretty hard” not to return next year. He
says he will no longer run the back-to-back Iditarod and Yukon
Quest in the same year.
The 1,100-mile Iditarod kicks off with a ceremonial start in
Anchorage Saturday.
The competitive clock starts ticking in Willow on Sunday, as
mushers begin their trek to Nome.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)