One month from now, at least 20 mushers will begin the 300-mile race from Bethel to Aniak and back. Currently, ten spots are still open for the 2019 Kuskokwim 300 sled dog race.

According to the latest update from the K300, last week, Will Rhodes of Two Rivers was the latest musher to throw his name into the ring. Rhodes operates Mackey’s Alaskan Distance Dogs kennel with his wife Brenda. He is also a Knik 200 winner, taking first back in 2015.

K300 race manager Madelene Reichard says interested mushers have until January 1  to sign up and still be eligible to receive a refundable portion of their entry fee. After that point, the $800 each new entrant pays is non-refundable.

As promised, this year’s K300 includes a slightly bigger purse than last year. The winner of the 2019 race will receive $25,000 out of a total of $160,000. The top 25 finishers will all take home a portion of the pot, but Reichard says if 25 mushers don’t cross the finish line, then the remaining funds will be distributed among the winners.

The 2019 Kuskokwim 300 sled dog race is scheduled to begin at 6:30pm on January 18.

Image at top: file photo: Bethel’s own Pete Kaiser, who claimed a fourth consecutive Kuskokwim 300 victory in the 2018 race (crossing the finish line Sunday morning, Jan. 21). Photo: Katie Basile, KYUK; used with permission.