UP200 Dog Sled Race
Marquette, Michigan

Frank Moe starts off the 2013 UP200 race
Musher Frank Moe of Bemidji, Minnesota and his team of champion racers
are first out of the starting gate at the 24th running of the UP 200 Sled Dog Race.

Sled Dog Marathon Race

UP 200 Winner Ray Anderson

2023 UP 200 Sled Dog Race
Marquette to Grand Marais
Race Dates Feb 16 - 23

See Photos & Video from the
2012 UP 200 Sled Dog Race.

See More Marquette Winter Events and Munising Winter Skiing and Snowshoeing.

Other UP Winter Events Links - Upper Peninsula Superior Towns

Friday night in Marquette thousands of people lined up along snow covered West Washington Street to watch the beginning of the UP200 Sled Dog Race, a qualifying competition for the famed Iditarod Alaskan race. Downtown businesses provided a festival atmosphere with music and entertainment plus several serving free hot chocolate and coffee. Frank Moe of Bemidji, Minnesota drew Bib #1 and starting position for the 24th running of the UP 200 (which is actually 240 miles in length). At the halfway point leaving Grand Marais, Moe was running in fourth place but later the next morning, after laying over in Wetmore, a scary and freakish accident caused him to withdraw from the race.

Last year, scant snow in the area caused a change in the race course, eliminating the traditional start and finish in Marquette. This year there was plenty of snow and during the race more snow than the mushers and dogs wanted. 12 inches of fresh snow along parts of the course slowed racers considerably and tired out some of the dog teams. Of the 17 teams starting the race only 11 finished. In fact race winner crossed the finish line with only 9 of his 12 dogs on the team.

Sunday afternoon around 1 pm, Ryan Anderson of Ray, Minnesota crossed the finish line winning his fourth in a row and unprecedented UP 200 race. His neighbor Keith Ali also from Ray, Minnesota finished second. Ali had previously won the race three times. Ryan Reddington, who came all the way from Wasilla, Alaska to compete, finished third. Reddington’s grandfather was a founder of the famous Iditarod Sled Dog Race. Another Minnesotan, Troy Groeneveld finished fourth. Martin Koenig of Seeley Lake, Montana finished fifth. The top woman finisher was Zoya DeNure of Delta Junction, Alaska who finished 6th overall.

DeNure, a former model, has an interesting story on our journey to becoming a professional musher. Go here for the story by Deanna Deck "A Girl and Her Dogs."

2013 UP 200 Dog Sled Race Photos

The crowd lined the four block long race start on Washington Street and continued along the route adjacent to the lower harbor.

Musher Kevin Malikowski & his team after turning the corner
off the Washington Street straightaway.

It was a clear, cool, starry night. These folks had a good view just across the street from the race course and a warm place to retreat when it got too cold.

Winner Ray Anderson of Ray, Minnesota being interviewed at the finish line. This was Ray's fourth consecutive win at the UP 200 race.

Keith Ali, also from Ray, Minnesota, arrived eleven minutes later to take second place. Keith has won this event three times in the past.

Only 22 seconds behind Ali, Musher Ray Reddington of
Wasilla, Alaska took the
third place trophy (and cash prize).

Fourth place went to Troy Groeneveld, another Minnesotan.

Fifth place went to Martin Koenig of Seeley Lake, Montana

Other 2013 Dog Sled Race Results

The Midnight Run - This is a 78 mile race for 8 dog teams that starts late Friday night in Marquette and finishes at the grade school in Munising. Michael Bestgen, of St. Cloud, Minnesota won the race. Because the race started three hours later than the UP 200 and part of the course is unique Mike caught the brunt of the snow, having to break trail most of the way. Al Borak, of Cheboygan, Wisconsin finished only 3 minutes behind Bestgen. Tom Bauer, of Tapiola, Michigan came in third five minutes later.

Jackpine 30 - The Jackpine is a competitive, six-dog sportsman’s class race that begins and ends in Gwinn, Michigan a village about 20 miles south of Marquette. Due to its more western and southern location, Jackpine mushers didn't encounter the heavy snowfall experienced in the other races and had near ideal race conditions. This race is often a good training race for younger mushers. Monte Simmons took first place with a finishing time of 2 hrs and 39 minutes. Jim Winkowski was second and Brad Quale finished third.

See more race results and photos at the UP200 Sled Dog Race Website.