Lance Mackey

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Lance Mackey (born 1970) is an American dog musher and dog sled racer from Fairbanks, Alaska, who is a four-time winner of the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest and two-time winner of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. In 2007, Lance became the first person to win both the Yukon Quest and Iditarod in the same year, and repeated the feat in 2008. This feat was considered almost impossible by many and is considered one of the most impressive feats by a musher. Lance was nominated for a 2007 ESPY Award based on his performance. Lance won the Tustumena 200 in 2008, and his fourth consecutive Yukon Quest, followed soon after by his second Iditarod.

His father Dick Mackey was one of the founders of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, and won the event by one second over Rick Swenson in 1978. Also, Lance's half-brother Rick Mackey won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in 1983. All three of them won the race on their sixth attempt wearing bib number 13.

Mackey was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2001 but continued sled dog racing entering the 2002 Iditarod race. After scratching from that race, he took a full year off from racing to recover from the disease. He is now considered cancer-free, however, Mackey suffered nerve damage in his left index finger as a result of the operation to remove the cancerous tumor. The nerve damage caused such unbearable pain in the finger that Mackey chose to have the finger surgically removed.

Mackey is married to his high school sweetheart Tonya who is also a musher. They have four children: Amanda, Brittney, Alanah, and Cain. They run the Comeback Kennel in Fairbanks, Alaska.

"This means more to me than winning this damn race". That was Mackey's response to winning the Veterinarians' Choice award last year after winning the Iditarod itself.

Preceded by Hans Gatt	Yukon Quest winner 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008	Succeeded by incumbent
Preceded by Jeff King	Iditarod winner 2007, 2008	Succeeded by incumbent
Preceded by Ken Anderson	Tustumena 200 winner 2008	Succeeded by incumbent