NESDC Spectator Information

The New England Sled Dog Club would like to welcome you to our sled dog races and hope you will enjoy it as much as we enjoy racing.

Admission to all NESDC races is free. For most of you this will be your first race, so we know you would like to know what you can do to help make this an even more successful race.

By all means, pick yourself a team to cheer for and let the driver know you appreciate his team's efforts. As in all sports, it always helps to know you have someone cheering you on.

Feel free to visit the holding area and take all the pictures you want to. Be careful walking around the holding area as there are many things to trip over such as stake-out chains, harnesses and sleds.

Ask the drivers and handlers questions if they are not too busy. Usually they will be glad to answer any questions that you might have. Just remember that it takes a lot of work to get the team ready for the race and up to the starting line, so at this time drivers may not have time to stop and talk to you.

Please, never bring a dog or cat to a sled dog race. If you have one with you leave it in your car or some place away from the race. Remember, a driver handling several dogs cannot be responsible for the safety of your pet. Also, keep your toddlers in hand. Eager dogs, ready to run, may leap or rear-up in anticipation, and it would be unfortunate to have an accident that was the fault of neither dog nor child. Lines connecting the teams and chains attached to tied-out dogs can be dangerous to a child. Sled dogs are trained racing dogs and not house pets, and you should never feed them or offer them anything unless the owner has said that it was all right.

Please stand back when you are near the starting line or out on the trail. If you are too close you might distract the dogs and even cause them to leave the trail, which could result in the disqualification of that team.

These dogs love to run, just as a house pet might like to go out on the leash or dig up the neighbor's flower garden. Although they might look tired after a race, they are very happy animals. The only time a sled dog is unhappy is when he is not with the team.

We hope you enjoy the races and if you do be sure to tell others about the sport. It is one of the few sports where men and women compete on an equal basis.

Thank You For Coming . . . . . And Good Sledding !