The Longest Sled Dog Race in the World: An Overview

Jay Butan, DVM, has owned and operated Lake Worth, Florida’s Canal Animal Hospital since 1989. Community involved and civic minded, Jay Butan, DVM, shares his skills as a veterinarian in a number of additional ways. For example, in addition to participating in Palm Beach County’s pre adoption “Spay-a-Thons”, for over two decades he has spent significant amounts of time at personal expense to volunteer as a trail vet for Alaska’s annual Iditarod sled dog race.

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race began in 1973 and today stands as the best-known sled dog race in the world. However, at 938 miles, or 1,510 kilometers, the Iditarod is not the longest sled dog race in the world.

The longest sled dog race ever recorded was the Beringia-92. The course followed a more than 2,000 kilometer track, or about 1,270 miles, between Esso and Markovo in eastern Russia. Raced in 1992, this edition of the Berginia was won by Vladimir Radivilov and his team, who crossed the finish line after 201 hours, or just under eight and a half days. The Beringia is run annually, but the length and direction of the course varies from year to year, and it has yet to surpass the 1992 edition in terms of total distance.

By comparison, Dallas Seavey set the Iditarod course record in 2021. He completed the race in seven days, 14 hours, eight minutes, and 57 seconds.

1. The Longest Sled Dog Race in the World

2. Jay Butan , DVM, has owned and operated Lake Worth, Florida’s Canal Animal Hospital since 1989. Community involved and civic minded, Jay Butan , DVM, shares his skills as a veterinarian in a number of additional ways. For example, in addition to participating in Palm Beach County’s pre adoption “Spay-a-Thons”, for over two decades he has spent significant amounts of time at personal expense to volunteer as a trail vet for Alaska’s annual Iditarod sled dog race. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race began in 1973 and today stands as the best-known sled dog race in the world. However, at 938 miles, or 1,510 kilometers, the Iditarod is not the longest sled dog race in the world.

3. The longest sled dog race ever recorded was the Beringia-92. The course followed a more than 2,000 kilometer track, or about 1,270 miles, between Esso and Markovo in eastern Russia. Raced in 1992, this edition of the Berginia was won by Vladimir Radivilov and his team, who crossed the finish line after 201 hours, or just under eight and a half days. The Beringia is run annually, but the length and direction of the course varies from year to year, and it has yet to surpass the 1992 edition in terms of total distance. By comparison, Dallas Seavey set the Iditarod course record in 2021. He completed the race in seven days, 14 hours, eight minutes, and 57 seconds.