Changes are made to the Yukon Quest 1,000 Mile International Sled Dog Race roster

Photo courtesy: MGN
Photo courtesy: MGN(WLUC)
Published: Jan. 24, 2017 at 3:16 PM AKST
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On Tuesday, the 2017 Yukon Quest International race officials made changes to the roster, by allowing two mushers reentry into the 1,000 mile race.

Over the weekend, the 2017 Yukon Quest 1,000 Mile International Sled Dog Race roster changed, after some participants failed to pass pre-race vet checks, according to the YQI.

The Race Marshal withdrew Severin Cathry from the 1,000 mile race, because Cathry failed to comply with vaccination requirements, regarding the prevention of the highly infectious disease of Bordetella.

YQI General Rule No. 8 states, the “Bordetella (intra-nasal or injectable) vaccine must have been given [to the racing dogs] between September 5, 2016 and January 5, 2017.”

Rookie entrants Ed Stielstra and Laura Neese also faced difficulties this past weekend, when the team failed to have their dogs examined at an YQI official Vet Check in a timely manner. The team missed their mandatory vet check, when they were driving to Whitehorse from Michigan.

The General Race Procedure Rule No. 8 also states, “Rookie entrants must have their dogs examined at an YQI official Vet Check. Rookies who cannot participate in the official Vet Check cannot start the race.”

Upon hearing that Stielstra and Neese were to be withdrawn from the event, the public sent the mushers massive support. People threatened to boycott the race, and two other quest champions, Brent Sass and Hugh Neff, considered to voluntarily withdraw from the race.

On Monday, the YQI said that Stielstra may race if he pays a $1,000 penalty fine and succeeds in passing an official YQI vet check.

On Tuesday, a Facebook

via the Nature’s Kennel, owned by Stielstra, announced that both Stielstra and Neese are expected to remain in the 1,000 race, as the team is running to build Neese's Iditarod team.

Additionally, the Yukon Quest Twitter account

the team's participation in this year's race.

This year’s YQI race begins on Feb. 4, 2017, in Whitehorse, Yukon, and the race will end in Fairbanks, Alaska.

After a good nights sleep, Laura has decided that her and I will pay the $1,000 penalty and run the Yukon Quest. I am...

Posted by Nature's Kennel on Tuesday, January 24, 2017