Dog dies on Yukon Quest trail, past champ Hugh Neff drops out of race

Yukon Quest race officials say a dog on musher Hugh Neff's team died on the trail.

Neff a two-time Quest champion and last year's second-place finisher also plansto dropout of this year's race once he reaches Dawson City, officials say.

Race marshal Doug Harris says Neffnotified them before his dog died, to say that he was goingto withdraw from the race.

"He just said that he was running a young team of dogs and they weren't having any fun," Harris said. "It was very cold, and he just thought it would be best for his team."

Early the next morning Friday Neffcontacted officials again to say his dog,Boppy,had died.

"It was one of his older, more senior veteran dogs," Harris said. "It happens, unfortunately."

It's not yet clear how or why the dog died, Harris said.The race's head veterinarian will perform a necropsy, and a more detailed examination will be done after the race.

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Neff, from Tok, Alaska,has been a mainstay of the race for nearly two decades, having competednearly every year since 2000. He won the race in 2016 and 2012.

Three mushers have now been scratched or have withdrawnfrom the race in the last two days. Alberta musher Jason Campeaucalled for help from the trail on Wednesday and was flown out by helicopter for a "medical issue." His wife, Jennifer Campeau, also scratched Thursday.

Since the race began last weekend, ninemushers have scratched or been withdrawn. Sixteen are still in the race to Whitehorse.

• Yukon Quest musher calls for medical help, drops out of race