The Iditarod is proud to announce that Lance Mackey has been selected as the 2023 Honorary Musher; Lance competed in the Iditarod 16 times, had 6 Top  10 finishes and finished in 1st place in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.  Lance was one of the Iditarod nation’s most colorful champions, exciting the crowds and his fans everywhere he went.    

Lance was born into a very prominent family in the world of dog racing: his father, Dick Mackey, ran the Iditarod 8 times and won the race in 1978.  His mother, Kathie, raced in the Women’s North American Championship Sled Dog Race when she was seven months pregnant with Lance, his older brother Rick won in 1983 and his younger brother Jason will be competing in his 8th Iditarod race in 2023.

Iditarod Board President, Mike Mills, contacted Lance’s wife, Seane, to notify her of the award and ask their family to be a part of the celebration. During the Ceremonial Start on Saturday, March 4, 2023,  Lance’s children, Atigun and Lozen, will ride in the first sled to leave the chute driven by the 2023 Iditarod Jr. Champion. 

The ITC and all of Iditarod Nation will have the Mackey family in our hearts this upcoming race, and we are excited to celebrate Lance as our Honorary Musher.  Happy and safe trails to all of our teams on the Southern Route for Iditarod 2023.

-Iditarod Trail Committee