Dog race barks through the Boro

BY
SCOTT BRODEN
February 14, 2010


You don't have to shiver in Alaska to enjoy Iditarod sled dog racing.

A few dozen folks and their four-legged friends braved chilly but not freezing weather in Murfreesboro Saturday to experience the Music City Dryland Sled Dog Challenge.

To make the event work without snow, the dog teams were harnessed to various chariot-like carts on wheels. Local couple Rodney and Vicki Whaley organized the event at the city's Gateway Trail off College Street near Medical Center Parkway. "This is our first Music City Dryland race," said Vicki, who along with her husband resides in the Rockvale community southwest of Murfreesboro. "We plan for it to be an annual event."

Sled dog teams traveled to Murfreesboro from other Southern states. "We have three teams from Louisiana," Rodney said. "We have a musher from North Carolina. One from Bristol, Va. One from Chattanooga. One from Brentwood. Two from Mayfield, Ky." Rodney is a committed sled dog racer himself, having competed in the Iditarod in 2008. He and Vicki have four dogs: sisters, Chelan and Chinook; and rescued males Muktuk and Koyuk. The team visit local schools, including Cedar Grove Elementary in west Smyrna last Wednesday. The dogs and Rodney also showed off their talents during Saturday's event.

Fellow sled dog racer Bill Borden traveled here with his wife, Brenda, from the Atlanta area and is impressed with how Rodney has promoted the sport .

"You are looking at the infancy of a sport in this area," Bill said. "The snow mushers are thrilled the dryland mushers are pushing the sport. It's fantastic." He noted how dryland racing is a bit more dangerous than competing on snow. "I'd rather fall on snow than on pavement," said Bill, who wore a coat that boasts about finishing the Iditarod in 2002. He's one of 672 to complete the 1,151-mile Alaskan course that takes 14-plus days to reach. Bill hopes many sled dog fans will travel to Kennesaw, Ga., March 27 to see another dryland mushing event and the dedication of the Fisherking Iditarod Lead Dog Memorial Trail. Fisherking lived to be 18 and led Bill's Iditarod team. "Over 5,000 people are expected," Bill said.

Folks new to the sport also came to the Murfreesboro event. Luke and Molly Nemeth came with 6-year-old daughter, Lillian, and 4-year-old son, Lucas, as well as their mixed-breed shepherd, Matuka. "We've been trying to teach (Matuka) to pull," said Luke, who lives in the Barfield Road area of Murfreesboro. "He's not ready yet." The Nemeths, who own Dream Homes, Inc., got to know Rodney and Vicki Whaley and the couple's dogs by building them a log home. The family appreciates how Rodney will soon bring his sled dog team to MTSU's Child Development Center where Lucas attends preschool. The dog sled history amazes the Nemeth family. W never knew someone in Tennessee ran the Iditarod," said Luke, noting how they realized what a commitment it takes to train, compete and promote the sled-dog sport.

To learn more about sled dog racing in Tennessee visit the Web site: http://www.tnsleddogs.com/