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Tok Dog Mushers Association

2007 Rules will be uploaded shortly
Tok Dog Mushers Association
Racing Rules (2005)

  1. Each team shall have the choice of its own sled, and, at the option of the driver, the sled may be changed for each day's race. Sled must be equipped with adequate foot brake, anchor, brush bow, and sled bag.
  2. There shall be three judges and two timekeepers at the starting line and one Race Marshall at each event. They may choose as many assistants as they deem necessary.
  3. It shall not be necessary for any one person making an entry to own any of the dogs in the team.
  4. Each team must return with the same dogs with which it started each day. Any dogs which drop in the trail must be picked up and immediately put in the sled bag. Any dog dropped from the first days race can not be entered into the second days race.
  5. It shall not be permitted for any driver to enter any other or different dogs than those with which they started the first day of the race, under penalty of losing the race and being barred there from for two years thereafter. No entry or number shall be transferable.
  6. Each team entered in the race must consist of not less than the prescribed number of dogs applicable for the class entered
  7. The time of any driver failing to be at the start line for any of the days races shall begin at the start time set for such team and they shall not be allowed to start until after the last team has left and at the prescribed time interval between teams.
  8. A team not clearing the chute prior to the starting time of the next team shall be disqualified or penalized 1 minute as seen fit by the Race Martial.
  9. No driver will be permitted to have any outside assistance during their running time of the race if said interference is in the power of the driver to prevent, with the following exceptions:

    a) Each driver may have one self appointed handler to assist driver and team out of the start chute and at road crossings

    b) Each driver may have one self appointed handler to assist driver and team past teams home kennel and or any trail

    c) If a dog team leaves the designated trail and enters onto to highway, the driver and team may have unlimited assistance to return the dog team back to the designated trail.
  10. When one team overtakes another team, the team behind shall have immediate right-a-way and the driver ahead must stop their dogs upon demand and hold them to the best of his or her ability until the team has passed completely. In the event the passing team becomes tangled in the process of passing the the team behind must remain stopped until the passing team is untangled. In the event the team passed shall hang on for 4 minutes or 1 mile the passed team shall have the right to demand the trail again. Once a team enters the finish chute the driver is not required to surrender the trail to any team behind. The team following shall keep an interval of not less than 50 feet.
  11. No pacing or trailing of any sort shall be allowed
  12. No driver in any race shall use a loose leader during the race, and all drivers must use necklines on all dogs including leaders.
  13. Each driver of each team starting the race shall be the only driver during the race except that a driver may be replaced in the next race on the written order of a doctor
  14. Any driver or drivers appointed handler entering the starting line in an intoxicated condition shall be grounds for immediate disqualification of said team and driver.
  15. Every driver must follow the official course of the race under penalty of disqualification
  16. Every dog used by any driver in the race shall be identified and marked or recorded electronically by an official of the Tok Dog Mushers Assn prior to the start of each race.
  17. Cruel and inhumane treatment of the dogs by any driver or appointed handlers of said team is strictly prohibited under penalty of disqualification and being barred from TDMA races for a period not less than 5 years. The race officials shall be the judges of what constitutes cruel and inhuman treatment.
  18. Every person entering or driving a team in the race will be required to conduct him/her self in a fair and sportsman like manner under forfeiture of any prize, The decision of the judges is final!!!!!!
  19. The finish time for each team shall be the time the first dog's nose crosses the finish line, as long as said team is intact with driver, sled, and all dogs that started the race
  20. The driver completing the prescribed course in the shortest amount of time will be declared the winner
  21. No driver under the age of 18 will be allowed to compete in the race
  22. Any complaints or protests must be made to the judges orally within 5 minutes after completion of each race and also be presented in writing within 4 hours after the finish of the race. Official decisions of the judges shall be made public 6 hours after the finish of the race.
  23. Any driver quitting the race must clear the trail completely until all race teams have returned to the finish line.
  24. No musher will be allowed to use whips, rope,chain or weapons of any kind within the start/finish chute or within 50 feet of another team
  25. No team shall use use the official race course or any part there of until all race teams have returned
  26. No driver or team shall be barred from any race sponsored by the association except for infractions of the rules.
  27. Drawing of numbers for the TDMA races shall establish the start order for the first days race. Starting order for the next days race will be determined by finish order of the first days race.
  28. In all races there shall be an entry fee payable by each contestant, said fee's are determined annually. All teams entered must be members of the Tok Dog Mushers Assn.
  29. Drag mats are to be no larger than 12"x12" and of a non aggressive nature. Aggressive to mean of a nature as to not do excessive damage to the race surface. Race Marshall has final judgment as to the definition of excessive
  30. If a driver elects to use cable line during a race he/she must have adequate means to cut said cable on there person and said driver must show Race Marshall said means upon request prior to his/her departure of start line. "NON COMPLIANCE" will result in an automatic disqualification
  31. AGGRESSIVE DOGS!!!!!!! All dog drivers are responsible for the conduct of their dogs The Race Marshall has authority to remove any dog or dogs from a team for the following violations:

    a) A dog has created a hazard to other dogs by fighting

    b) A dog has created a hazard to people by unprovoked biting, this includes drivers ,handlers, chute volunteers, or spectators

    c) The Race Marshall has the authority to remove any driver and team for failure to comply with his decision to remove any dog or dogs deemed unruly or failure of the driver to keep their team under control in the staging area or starting line

    d) The Race Marshall shall submit a written report to the TDMA board of Directors concerning the removal of any dog or driver before the end of the race day TDMA will review the event and decide if futher action is necessary *ie probation of said dog or driver for a given period of time or possible premanent ban from racing at any TDMA sanctioned event,.

    e) The driver has the right to appeal any decision on this matter, any appeal must be submitted before the end of the same day in writting

    f) The TDMA Board of Directors has final authority concerning judgment of any and all matters pertaining to the policies as listed above.