High-Energy Huskies

An estimated 70 sled dog enthusiasts and more than 100 of their high-energy dogs raced over trails in Fairview Park on Saturday as part of the Southern California Working Snow Dogs Group’s fourth annual Not-So-Great Serum Run.

The dog sled racing event pays tribute to the Great Serum Run of 1925 in which 20 mushers and 150 sled dogs battled sub-zero temperatures to haul cases of medicine to Nome, Alaska, which was in the throes of a diphtheria epidemic.

Robert Straddle of Wrightwood, who keeps a kennel of 22 Siberian huskies, took home first-place honors in six of the races’ three events on Saturday.

While most of the dogs in the races are Siberian huskies, any medium-size, high-energy dogs can make a good sled dog, said Costa Mesa resident Rancy Reyes, founder of the Southern California Working Snow Dog Group.

Many of the dogs who participated in Saturday’s race were rescued from shelters, he said.

“The dogs love it and that’s why we do it,” Reyes said. “It’s kind of a bonus to come together like this and have some fun, and it keeps the dogs motivated as well.”

— Brianna Bailey