[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 38 (Tuesday, March 16, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E391]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




COMMENDING LANCE MACKEY ON WINNING A RECORD 4TH STRAIGHT IDITAROD TRAIL 
                             SLED DOG RACE

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of alaska

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 16, 2010

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Madam Speaker: Whereas Lance Mackey was born and 
raised in Alaska and currently resides in Fairbanks, Alaska; and
  Whereas, Lance Mackey comes from a long line of successful mushers, 
including his father Dick and his brother Rick, each of who has won the 
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race; and
  Whereas, Lance Mackey is married to his high school sweetheart Tonya, 
who is also a musher, and has three children: Amanda, Brittney and Cain 
and one new grandchild, born on the seventh day of the nine-plus 
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race; and
  Whereas, Lance Mackey and his family run the Comeback Kennel in 
Fairbanks, Alaska; and
  Whereas, Lance Mackey was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2001, took 
a year off from sled-dog racing to recover from the disease and is now 
cancer-free; and
  Whereas, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, which has been called the 
``Last Great Race on Earth,'' is a grueling 1,150 mile sled dog race 
across Alaska's jagged mountain ranges, frozen rivers, dense forests, 
and windswept tundra; and
  Whereas, running the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is a year-long 
commitment to training and caring for one's sled dogs; and
  Whereas, the Yukon Quest is an equally grueling 1,000 mile sled dog 
race from Fairbanks, Alaska to Whitehorse, Yukon; and
  Whereas, Lance Mackey is the only 4-time consecutive Iditarod Trail 
Sled Dog Race Champion, the only 4-time Yukon Quest Race Champion and 
the only man to win both the Yukon Quest and Iditarod Trail Sled Dog 
Races in the same year, which he did in both 2007 and 2008; and
  Whereas, Lance Mackey, guided by his two lead dogs ``Maple'' and 
``Rev,'' mushed his team of Alaskan Huskies along the path of the 38th 
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race from its start in Anchorage to the finish 
line in Nome in just 8 days, 23 hours and 59 minutes and nine seconds; 
and
  Whereas, both ``Maple'' and ``Rev'' exemplify all the essential 
qualities for good lead dogs, including intelligence, initiative, 
common sense, and the ability to find a trail in bad conditions; and
  Whereas, Lance Mackey, who despite retiring ``Larry,'' the lead dog 
with whom Mackey won his first three Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Races, was 
still able to convincingly win his 4th consecutive Iditarod; and
  Whereas, the Iditarod Trail, a National Historic Trail, is staffed by 
thousands of volunteers who monitor and assist all competitors; and
  Whereas, each checkpoint along the Iditarod Trail has coordinators, 
health care professionals and licensed veterinarians who carefully 
monitor the health and safety of all dogs and mushers; now, therefore, 
be it
  Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
  (1) Commends Lance Mackey on his record-breaking 4th consecutive 
Iditarod victory during the 2010 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
  (2) Applauds each and every musher who was courageous enough to 
compete in the 2010 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
  (3) Expresses appreciation to all the volunteers and staff who help 
make this great Alaskan race possible each and every year.

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