Brothers take on Alaska sled dog racing together
Shondiin MayoICT
Brothers Greg and Ricky Taylor have spent the last five months preparing for the 2025 "Open" World Championship Sled Dog Race in Anchorage, Alaska, where Greg finished in third place on Sunday, February 23. The event was a key part of the 90th anniversary festivities for the Fur Rondy, an annual community celebration held in late February and early March.
Greg Taylor was one of five Indigenous participants in this year's race, which also featured:
Mitchell Jacobson from Tuktoyaktuk, Canada
Clyde Mayo Jr. from Fairbanks, Alaska
Joe Bifelt from Huslia/Fairbanks, Alaska
Jennifer Probert-Erhart from Tok/Fairbanks, Alaska
Living in Fairbanks, the Koyukon Athabascan brothers have dedicated their lives to the sport, a passion deeply embedded in their community's culture and inspired by their father's involvement in racing during the 1960s and 1970s. Their father Bill Taylor won the Open North American in 1968, setting a family tradition that endures to this day.
Ricky Taylor reflects on his lifelong involvement in dog mushing, which began in his early years with a team of three dogs. A vivid childhood memory is of his mother cheering him on during a race. As he sped past her, he shouted in exhilaration, 'Am I smoking or am I smoking?' to which she responded, 'You better hurry up!'
While Ricky no longer participates in races, he continues to train the 83 sled dogs at their family kennel, while Greg competes with them on the track.
Their training begins in early October using a four-wheeler rather than starting on snow with a dog sled. By initially covering six miles, they can evaluate the capabilities of their kennel and determine which dogs will participate during the season.
"It's a pretty good test," said Ricky.
Like athletes in a training program, the sled dogs progressively increase their mileage and build endurance over time. As the dogs progress, both Ricky and Greg observe and handpick their team over the course of training. Ultimately, they look for speed and confidence, especially as they search for a leader, which is a dog at the front of the team. Those two qualities are essential for guiding a dog team through traffic, alongside other teams, while remaining unfazed by the cheering crowd.
Comparing it to basketball, Ricky shares, 'You need the Michael Jordan and Larry Bird of dogs to compete.'
Unable to train their large number of dogs indoors, their training relies not only on the trails they use but also on the weather conditions. Fairbanks experienced an unusual increase in temperatures in January, reported to be '40 degrees higher than is normally seen at this time of year," according to Alaska's News Source. The combination of daytime heat and nighttime freezing temperatures resulted in hazardous road conditions and some snow melt. The Taylor family trains their dogs directly from their yard into the surrounding neighborhood, which features an airplane strip, a float pond for airplanes, and several gravel pits. However, the rain and overflow from the gravel pits hindered the Taylors' ability to prepare their dogs.
'We just had tough training this year. We're not where we would like to be, but after this race here, we'll catch up,' says Greg.
Amidst the extensive training required for the dogs, harsh weather conditions, and the year-round care they need, the Taylors find purpose in this longtime tradition. In short, it's deeper than performing in front of a crowd and receiving a shiny trophy. Greg reflects on his long career and says, 'We raise dogs, and when you raise up some really nice dogs and you do well in the race, that's your reward.'
On the training side, Ricky shares that while feeding the dogs, watering them, cleaning up after them, and maintaining warm dog houses, the work is invaluable as he continues his father's legacy alongside his brother.
'It's just as satisfying to see my dogs with him on the runners, doing good,' Ricky says.
The Taylors plan to participate in the Open North American in Fairbanks March 14-16, joining teams from around the world competing in the 79th annual race.
Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute $5 or $10 today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICT's free newsletter.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
5 days ago
- New York Post
2025 Travelers Championship picks: Four long shots to bet at TPC River Highlands
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. One thing that the PGA Tour got right over the last few years is the decision to schedule signature events for the week immediately following a major championship. Not only does it help to sustain momentum from the biggest events of the year, but it also guarantees terrific fields for tournaments like this week's Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn. Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, and newly-crowned U.S. Open champ J.J. Spaun are all set to compete this week. Scheffler, who finished T7 at Oakmont as a +275 pre-tournament favorite, is sitting in that range again for the Travelers. The 28-year-old won this event last year in a playoff against Tom Kim. Scheffler is the only golfer with single-digit odds at TPC River Highlands. McIlroy (11/1), Schauffele (12/1), Morikawa (18/1), and Patrick Cantlay (25/1) round out the top five on the betting board. The Travelers has had its fair share of heavyweight winners such as Scheffler, Schauffele, and Dustin Johnson in recent years, but it's also seen some big long shots like Chez Reavie and Harris English lift the trophy. 2025 Travelers Championship picks Brian Harman (90/1, FanDuel): It's hard to ignore Brian Harman's history at the Travelers, especially at this price. The 2023 Open Champion has finished inside the top 10 in six of his last seven trips to TPC River Highlands and was the 2023 runner-up behind Keegan Bradley. Harman's last few starts have been middling, but he's two months removed from bookending the Masters with a win at the Valero Texas Open and a T3 at the RBC Heritage. Matt Fitzpatrick (90/1, BetMGM): An abysmal start to the season is now in the rear-view mirror for Matt Fitzpatrick. The 2022 U.S. Open champion has made five consecutive cuts, and posted his first top-10 finish at last month's PGA Championship. We know he has the ceiling to win this tournament, and now his form is starting to come around. Matt Fitzpatrick has made five straight cuts after a slow start to 2025. Getty Images These kinds of prices will be a distant memory if he keeps trending in the right direction ahead, so here's hoping we cash in before the market catches on to Fitzpatrick's resurgence. Harry Hall (110/1, FanDuel): He didn't play at the U.S. Open, and that should be a good thing for Harry Hall. The Englishman will be fresh, while plenty of players above him on the odds board will be licking their wounds after getting mopped up by Oakmont last week. And it's not just the rest factor that makes Hall a worthwhile punt this week. He's also been in strong form with four straight top-25 finishes at some tough events like the PGA Championship and Charles Schwab Challenge. Kevin Yu (125/1, Caesars): A boom or bust player, Kevin Yu has finished fourth, T50, MC, and third in his last four outings and has as many top-20 finishes as missed cuts this year. In other words, if Yu makes it to the weekend, there's a good chance he's going to give you a terrific sweat at a massive price. Why Trust New York Post Betting Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Jack Draper begins bid to emulate Andy Murray at Queen's Club with opening win
Jack Draper began his bid to emulate Andy Murray at Queen's Club by winning his first match on the court named after the five-time champion. The British number one, seeded second at this year's HSBC Championships, is attempting to become only the second home men's singles winner in the Open era after Murray. Advertisement Draper got his grass-court season off to a solid start on the Andy Murray Arena with a 6-3 6-1 win over American Jenson Brooksby, before poking fun at his mentor, who retired last year. 'Can't get rid of this guy,' he joked. 'Andy is an unbelievable guy, someone I'm very inspired by and I wouldn't be where I am without him. 'I definitely miss him on the Tour. Thank you Andy, this court deserves to be named after you.' Draper narrowly avoided injuring himself when he chased down an overhead into the advertising hoardings on his first set point, but he dispatched the second with a clubbing forehand. Draper (pictured) will face Australian Alexei Popyrin in the second round (Ben Whitley/PA) The 23-year-old then fired down an eighth ace of the contest on his first match point before celebrating a dominant win and writing 'good to be home' on a camera lens. Draper will face Australian world number 21 Alexei Popyrin in the second round.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Kiltie returns to Kilmarnock from St Mirren
Greg Kiltie has returned to Kilmarnock from St Mirren on a two-year deal in search of "guaranteed first-team football". Both Scottish Premiership clubs have signed off an "undisclosed agreement" for the 28-year-old attacking midfielder to re-join the Ayrshire club. Advertisement Kiltie, who scored 11 goals and provided 17 assists in 142 games for St Mirren, left Rugby Park for Paisley in 2021, but his minutes were limited in the second half of last season. Buddies boss Stephen Robinson says Kiltie has been an "integral part" of what the team has achieved in recent years, earning three straight top-six finishes. "He's a great boy and a very talented player," Robinson added. "But Greg felt he wanted guaranteed first-team football and he had an opportunity at Kilmarnock and we wouldn't stand in his way." Meanwhile, Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell said: "Greg is a player I've admired for a number of years and he's one I'm confident will fit in well with our squad. Advertisement "Greg is a local lad, and Kilmarnock is his team, it was clear when speaking to him he was eager to come back and I am delighted we could make it happen." Kiltie, who registered 20 goals and 16 assists in 134 games during his first spell at Kilmarnock, added: "When I heard this could be a possibility then obviously I jumped at the chance to get it done and I'm just delighted to be back. "I always felt I wanted to come back, but in football you never know, you're just hoping the timing is going to be right and everything aligns. "I had a chat with the manager and he explained what he was thinking and obviously his ambition and my ambitions. I won't go into it too much, but obviously we're both ambitious and want the team to be successful."
