Dog sled racing was once included as a demonstration event at the Winter Olympics - in 1932 in Lake Placid. There were twelve contestants, five from Canada and seven from the USA. There was also a skijoring demonstration sport at the 1928 Winter Olympics, in which a person on skis was pulled by a horse. See more Winter Olympic Games demonstration sports.

dogs pulling a sled and driverdogs pulling a sled and driver

Rules

The event was conducted under the rules of the New England Sled Dog Club, and ran twice over a 25.1 mile long course. There were six dogs per sled, and each sled took off at three-minute intervals. The intermediate times were given to the mushers at four miles, 10.6 miles, and 22.46 miles.

Results

The event was won by Canada's Emile St. Godard, who beat America's Leonhard Seppala and compatriot Shorty Russick.

Place Driver Country Race #1 Race #2 Combined
1 Emile St. Godard Canada 2:12:05.0 2:11:07.5 4:23:12.5
2 Leonhard Seppala USA 2:13:34.3 2:17:27.5 4:31:01.8
3 Shorty Russick Canada 2:26:22.4 2:21:22.2 4:47:44.6