All Alaska Sweepstakes

In 1907, the local administrators of the Nome Kennel Club in Nome, Alaska, developed plans for a long-distance dog-sled race that followed a route along the Bering Strait.

The first race, named the All Alaska Sweepstakes, took place in the spring of 1908.

The telegraphic lines enabled the mushers to communicate their checkpoint times and ranks to the media.

Mushers were required to finish the race with as many dogs as they started with, whether they were alive, injured or dead.

To help minimize the weight on each sled, a minimum amount of items such as clothes, water and shoes for the dogs was loaded.