Registration for the 2018 Yukon Quest wrapped up at the beginning of December with a total of 28 mushers signed up for the 1,000 mile sled dog race from Fairbanks, Alaska to Whitehorse.

The Quest announced Thursday morning this is the largest field with an intention to run the race in February since 2009.

Of the 28 mushers, about half are rookies with 13 new racers set to take the start line in Fairbanks on Feb. 3.

The field will include 15 veterans featuring past champions Hugh Neff, Allen Moore and last year’s winner Matt Hall.

Neff completed the race 14 times winning twice, most recently in 2016 with a finishing time of nine days, one hour and 28 minutes.

Moore also won the Quest twice in back-to-back years starting in 2013 in eight days, 16 hours and six minutes.

Moore is the only musher to have won the race in less than nine days, doing so in two straight years.

The closest finish in Quest history is also between these two veteran mushers with Neff beating Moore back in 2012 by only 26 seconds.

Defending champion Matt Hall will also be returning after winning last year in his third outing, beating both Neff and Moore who followed right behind in second and third place respectively.

Dog mushers from around the world will be participating in this year’s race, the Quest release said, with athletes from Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and even New Zealand participating in this year’s race.

Simon McLoughlin, originally from New Zealand but now living in Fairbanks, Alaska, will be running in his first Quest.

Swedish veteran Torsten Kohnert will be racing in his fifth straight Quest. He finished in sixth position three out of the four times he competed.

The Quest 300-mile race has a full roster of 25 mushers signed up with three still on the waiting list for the shorter distance race.