January 21, 2003—Jackson, Wyoming—Parades, a chili cook-off, banquets, and Native American dancers await the teams of the International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race (IPSSSDR) as they pull into welcoming Wyoming towns, announced Race Director Frank Teasley. Now in its eighth year, the 2003 IPSSSDR travels through 10 Wyoming communities over eight days, January 25 through February 1.

“We couldn’t do this race without the support of the communities,” says Teasley. “All of the towns work together to show the mushers a good time.”

With its unique “Stage Stop” racing format, the race stops in a different Wyoming community each night. The 2003 race begins in Jackson Hole, and travels through Dubois, Lander, Evanston, Mountain View, Lyman, Kemmerer/Diamondville, Alpine, and Pinedale before finishing at Teton Village in Jackson Hole. Each town hosts festivities for mushers and spectators ranging from junior dog sled races for children, dog parades and ice sculpture contests, to banquets, carnivals and fishing derbies.

Pedigree Food for Dogs is the 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 2003 IPSSSDR, Pedigree will host “Postcards from the Trail” with photographs posted on its web site, pedigree.com. Through Homeward Bound, Pedigree will make a donation to animal shelters for each visitor to the site during the race.

The International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race was founded in 1996 by Frank Teasley to make sled dog racing more accessible to the public. For more information, visit the race web site at www.wyomingstagestop.org; the race can be contacted via e-mail at wystagestop@blissnet.com, or call (307) 734-1163, or visit www.pedigree.com.

Friday , January 24
Jackson Hole

10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m Vet check

Vets check in all the teams

Home Ranch Parking Lot on Gill Street.

6:00 p.m. Meet the Mushers Reception

National Museum of Wildlife Art, Tickets, $15

Saturday, January 25

Jackson Hole

10:00 a.m. Jackson Hole Start and Finish, 3 miles

11:00 a.m. Historic Downtown Business Association of the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce presents the Jackson Hole WinterFest

Dubois
6:00 p.m. Banquet at Headwaters in Dubois

Sunday, January 26

Dubois

8:00 a.m. Stage Two, Dubois Snow Oval, 53 Miles

Lander

6:00 p.m. Banquet, Native American Eagle Spirit Dancers

Lander Community Center

Monday, January 27

Lander
9:00 a.m Stage Three, Lander, Bruce’s Bridge, 52 miles

Evanston
7:00 p.m Parade of Mushers and Pet Parade

Tuesday, January 28

Evanston
9:00 a.m. Stage Four, Evanston to Bridger Valley, 45 miles

Mountain View/Lyman
1:00 p.m. Post-race winter carnival extravaganza at Mountain View Town Hall.
*Mushers drive to Kemmerer following winter carnival

Kemmerer
5:30 p.m. Kemmerer Chili Feed

Wednesday, January 29
Kemmerer
9:00 a.m. Stage Five, Kemmerer/Lake Viva Naughton, 53 miles

Alpine

6:00 p.m. Finger Food Function

Thursday, January 30

Alpine
9:00 a.m. Stage Six, Alpine to Box Y, 60 miles

Pinedale

5:30-7:30 p.m. Reception/Dinner at Pinedale Entertainment Center

Friday, January 31

Pinedale
9:00 a.m. Stage Seven, Pinedale, 34 miles

Saturday, February 1

Teton Village

9:00 a.m. Stage Eight, Teton Village, 15 miles

10:30 a.m. Jr. Stage Stop

5:00 p.m. Closing Banquet , Teton Pines, Tickets, $15