At next winter’s Yukon Quest, the minimum prize purse will be US$120,000.

It’s up from last year’s initial $115,000. Mushers also raised $10,000 through the Quest Guest Program.

The prize purse will be shared according to percentage with the top 15 official finishers next year. Any funds raised through the Quest Guest Program are divided evenly among all official finishers.

“We are pleased to commit an increased minimum purse for the 2016 race,” said Michael Peterson, president of the Yukon Quest Yukon Board in a press release.

“We look forward to another year of great sponsors and fundraising initiatives such as the Quest Guest Program, which contribute to the purse.”

There have been higher purses in the past; the 2012 initial purse was $150,000, before dipping to $100,000 in 2013.

Fundraising, sponsorship and other funding efforts will continue before the race’s February 4 Whitehorse start.

Saturday, the Yukon Quest office in Whitehorse will be open from 1 to 3 p.m. as the event sign-up kicks off, with simultaneous events taking place in Whitehorse and in Fairbanks.

All mushers who sign up Saturday will be entered in a draw to win US$1,300.

In Whitehorse, the sign-up day coincides with BarkFest, an event for the public and their dogs, with a barbecue, contests and presentations by veteran musher Rob Cooke as well as the RCMP on service dogs.