Record prize purse of $18,000 at stake in Ontario's biggest dog sled competition: Kearney, Ontario, hosts 18th annual event on second weekend in February

KEARNEY, ON, Jan. 17, 2012 /CNW/ - A record number of dog sled teams will compete for the largest-ever prize purse of $18,000 in Kearney at the18th annual dog sled races on Saturday February 11th and Sunday February 12th.

Known as "The Biggest Little Town", Kearney is nestled in the beautiful Almaguin Highlands, on highway 518 east, 15 minutes east of Highway 11 and a half hour north of Huntsville.

The Kearney races are the only ones in Ontario that feature sprints, ski-joring, mid-distance and a long distance race.

The highlight is eastern Canada's only 120-mile unassisted overnight dog sled race which will start at 5 pm Saturday the 11th and conclude between 7 am and noon Sunday the 12th.

"There is $7,000 in prize money for the 120-mile race alone," says race organizer Lisa Houliston, who explains that after racing 60 miles there will be a mandatory 4 hour layover to rest and feed the dogs, which will be open to public view.  "The 12 teams will then set out again, based on their arrival times at the rest area, to complete the last 60 miles."

The population of the picturesque town of 800 triples every February as dog sledders and spectators from across North America come to take part.  The Kearney Dog Sled races are all sanctioned by the Ontario Federation of Sled Dog Sports.

Participants from Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec, the United States and Jamaica will mush along the snowy trails throughout Kearney and the western edge of Algonquin Park.

Festivities start Friday evening, February 10th with a family skate and bonfire with free hot dogs and hot chocolate at the Kearney Lions Park and conclude Sunday at 4:30 with a spaghetti dinner following prize presentations.

Further details are available at http://www.kearneydogsled.com

Lisa Houliston, 705-636-5349 or Ron Patton, 705-636-7528
Or by email at [email protected]