2025 Kuskokwim 300 Purse
Around this time people start wondering what are the prizes for the Teams on the trail. How much dogfood and supplies will this race buy?
Well, I’ll tell you it’s just a drop in the bucket as I know dog food, harnesses, sleds, and all of that is very expensive. Especially in our area here in Bethel as everything must be shipped in. Pete spends all of his winnings as do all of the Teams on keeping the Team happy and healthy and ready to GO-GO-GO!!
The Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race is special in that all of the purse is distributed. $200,000 is this year’s purse. 17 Teams are out on the trail and hopefully all of them will cross the finish line. The purse was based on 25 Teams, but only 17 left the Starting Line. The remaining purse is distributed to all finishing Teams! Isn’t that awesome? It is and I don’t think any other race does this. It also benefits the later teams arriving as it boosts their purse by quite a percentage more.
The red lantern winner this year, if it is 17th place will receive $6735.29 plus their entry fee back. All of this for a two day race!
I love the The Iditarod, but that race is easily two weeks and after it’s all said and done, Pete is sometimes gone almost three weeks. If it weren’t for sponsors (Donlin Gold LLC – Ryan Air, INC. – Northern Air Cargo – Lynden – Drew’s Foundation ) the endeavor would be darn near impossible. Rural mushers especially have a tough time as they have to ship supplies to Bethel and then ship them back to Anchorage. It’s a moot point this year as due to the lack of training weather Pete has opted out of the 2025 Iditarod, but the point is that the K300 is an amazing race in how it honors and celebrates Mushers and Teams.
The Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race prides itself in this payback and also in the endeavor to keep mushing alive.
I put together this purse breakdown for this year’s race and at this point it remains to be seen how it will breakout, but in terms of purse, the Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race puts it’s money where it’s mouth is and deserves our kudos. Thanks to them and congratulations to all of those early on that kicked this off and those that have supported the race for all of these many years!! The Queen of the Kuskokwim is definitely this race!
