Press Releases
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International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race Brings National Media Attention to Wyoming

Jackson Hole, Wyoming-March 12, 2001--The International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race (IPSSSDR), the largest sled dog race in the lower 48 states, will be featured on a half hour program on the Outdoor Life Network, March 28 at 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. EST reaching 44 million viewers announced Frank Teasley, Race Director. 

The IPSSSDR, which traveled through 14 Wyoming communities January 27-February 7, 2001 was featured on CBS "Sunday Morning," with a viewing audience of 10 million, on February 4, and also on prime time news shows in 25 major cities including Los Angeles, Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Baltimore, Dallas, and San Diego. Additionally, CNN shipped footage of the race to its 675 affiliate stations. 

During the 2001 IPSSSDR, media representatives from Animal Planet, Lifetime Network, National Geographic and Explore magazine accompanied the race. 

"Each year, we are seeing more and more media interest in the race," said Race Director Frank Teasley. "The race is a great publicity vehicle for our beautiful state as we travel through 14 Wyoming communities during 11 days. Part of the increased visibility of the 2001 race is due to the Pedigree brand’s promotion of the race through in-store displays, a daily webcast, a musher support program and support programs for animal shelters."

Wyoming Public Radio, KTWO-TV and the Jackson Hole News were media sponsors of the event, giving extensive coverage to the event. In addition, race organizers sent daily stories to 100 newspapers, radio stations and television stations across the country. 

Media relations of the event is coordinated exclusively through a joint effort between Big Horn-based Darla Worden Public Relations and Jackson Hole-based Stanwood & Partners, Wyoming’s largest public relations firm with 20 national accounts including Timberland, Vibram, PowerBar, Shimano, Outdoor Retailer, CamelBak Hydration Systems, Yakima, Smith Sport Optics, Kona Mountain Bikes, SmartWool Socks, The Interbike Show, Hard Corps, Atomic Ski USA, Brock USA, the Brunton Company, Teton County Transportation Choice Campaign, Explorer Sport Trac Challenge, and Nature Boy & Girl. 

Effective with the 2001 race, Pedigree Food for Dogs signed on to be a multi-year title sponsor of the IPSSSDR. The Pedigree brand actively supports a wide range of programs that promote responsible pet ownership and highlight the contributions dogs make to society. Such programs include Homeward Bound, a national pet adoption support program to encourage adoption of the nation’s 12 million homeless animals; the National Association for Search and Rescue; police canine units; and non-profit organizations that train and place service dogs for hearing and visually impaired people. 

During the 11-day race, Pedigree hosted a daily web cast on its web site, mypetstop.com, featuring video footage of the race. A donation was made by Pedigree/Homeward Bound for each visitor to the site during the race to support pet adoption.

The race, originally called the International Rocky Mountain Stage Stop Dog Sled Race, was founded in 1996 by Frank Teasley to make sled dog racing more accessible to the public. Race organizers are working to link the race to the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games as an exhibition. For more information, visit the race Website at www.wyomingstagestop.org, or contact the race via e-mail at wystagestop@blissnet.com, or call (307) 734-1163.