The Yukon and Alaskan boards of directors for the Yukon Quest 1,000 Mile International Sled Dog Race are guaranteeing a minimum purse of $115,000 US for the 2019 race.

The purse, however, could increase, depending on future fund-raising efforts and sponsorship support.

The purse announcement comes before the official 2019 race sign-up day, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 4.

The 2018 Yukon Quest purse totalled $125,000 which included $6,000 raised through the Quest Guest Program.

For the 2019 race, the top 15 official finishing positions will receive a percentage of the prize money and the Quest Guest Program earnings will be distributed evenly among all finishers on top of the purse earnings.

“Every year the offices work on sponsorship and fundraising initiatives to help cover the purse and operations costs,” says Bev Regier, president of the Yukon Quest Yukon Board. “We are so grateful to sponsors and supporters of the Yukon Quest for helping us put on this race year after year.”

Entry packages for mushers interested in the 1,000-mile race are available online or at either Yukon Quest office. Mushers can sign-up in person on Aug. 4 at the office in Fairbanks from 12-2 p.m. Alaska time, or at the office in Whitehorse from 1-3 p.m. All mushers who officially sign up on Saturday will be entered into a drawing to win back their $1,300 US entry fee.

In Fairbanks, fans will have a chance to meet mushers signing up for both the YQ-300 and the Yukon Quest races.

In Whitehorse, sign-up day will run alongside Yukon Quest BarkFest which gets underway at 11 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m. It includes a barbeque, contests and a chance to meet some of the mushers signing up for the 2019 race.

The 2019 Yukon Quest will start Saturday, Feb. 2 in Whitehorse.