1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:01,920 Speaker 1: This Day in History Class is a production of I 2 00:00:02,040 --> 00:00:08,720 Speaker 1: Heart Radio. Hello and Welcome to This Day in History Class, 3 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 1: a show that races through history, one milestone at a time. 4 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 1: I'm Gay Bluesier and in this episode, we're looking back 5 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 1: at the time when sled dog racing was considered for 6 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: inclusion as an official Olympic event, only to get snubbed 7 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 1: for the better part of a century. The day was 8 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 1: February six two, a dog sled racing event was featured 9 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 1: at the Winter Olympic Games for the first time. The 10 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 1: sport made its Olympic debut as a so called demonstration event, 11 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 1: a way to familiarize spectators with lesser known forms of 12 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 1: competition and to gauge interest for adding them to the 13 00:00:56,080 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: official program. Other demonstration sports that year included women's speed 14 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:06,399 Speaker 1: skating and curling. The first demonstration events were held at 15 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:10,399 Speaker 1: the second Winter Olympic Games, which were held in nineteen eight. 16 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 1: The practice of testing out events for potential future inclusion 17 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 1: remained part of the event until the early nineties, when 18 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 1: demonstration sports were finally discontinued. As for dog sledding, it 19 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:27,400 Speaker 1: was first developed by Inuit communities, not so much as 20 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:31,560 Speaker 1: a sport but as a primary means of transportation. By 21 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 1: the turn of the twentieth century, sled dogs were being 22 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 1: used by settlers in Arctic and Subarctic areas not only 23 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 1: for general travel, but for freight hauling and mail delivery 24 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:46,160 Speaker 1: as well. This quickly led to the rise of recreational 25 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 1: dog sledding, especially in regions well suited to the cold 26 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: weather sport, including Norway, Canada, and Alaska. That said, some 27 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 1: countries with warmer climates began putting their own spin on 28 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 1: dog sled racing. That includes South Africa and New Zealand, 29 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:06,760 Speaker 1: where wheeled carts were typically used in place of sleds. 30 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: By nineteen thirty two, the sport was considered popular enough 31 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:15,360 Speaker 1: to be featured at that year's Winter Olympic Games. The 32 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: nineteen thirty two Games were held at Lake Placid, New York, 33 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:21,959 Speaker 1: and as you may have noticed, they took place during 34 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:26,399 Speaker 1: the Great Depression as a result of the worldwide economic crisis. 35 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:31,240 Speaker 1: Only seventeen countries attended, represented by about two hundred and 36 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:34,919 Speaker 1: fifty athletes, more than half of whom were from Canada 37 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:38,919 Speaker 1: and the United States. The organizers had built a new 38 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:41,959 Speaker 1: stadium and bob sled run for the games, at a 39 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 1: combined cost of nearly four hundred thousand dollars, and since 40 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 1: ticket sales never hit the heights expected, the organizers wound 41 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:55,239 Speaker 1: up suffering huge financial losses from those investments. Still, they 42 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 1: did at least get some good use out of that 43 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 1: brand new stadium. It was used not only for the 44 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 1: opening and closing ceremonies, but for some hockey games, as 45 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:07,800 Speaker 1: well as the start and finish of two events, the 46 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 1: eighteen kilometer a cross countries ski race and the dog 47 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:17,920 Speaker 1: sled demonstration. The sledding competition consisted of two races held 48 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:21,799 Speaker 1: on February sixth and seventh. They were conducted under the 49 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 1: rules of the New England Sled Dog Club, with both 50 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 1: races taking place over a twenty five point one mile 51 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 1: course that wound through the back roads and trails of 52 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 1: the surrounding area. Although twelve teams competed, they only represented 53 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 1: two countries, with five teams from Canada and seven teams 54 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 1: from the United States. There was meant to be a 55 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 1: thirteenth team, led by American Earl Bannell. However, he was 56 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 1: declared a non starter due to his unusual decision to 57 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 1: use Irish setter dogs instead of the more traditional breeds 58 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 1: of huskies and malamutes. Bannell was not permitted to race 59 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 1: due to the protest of Eva Seeley, the only female 60 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 1: sled driver in the field. She reportedly raised the issue 61 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: out of concern for Banel's dogs, which she didn't believe 62 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 1: could handle the rigors of the trail. In the end, 63 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:20,920 Speaker 1: the organizers agreed the remaining twelve racers set off at 64 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:24,560 Speaker 1: three minute intervals and race to set the best combined 65 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 1: time for both races. Intermediate times were taken at three 66 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 1: different points along the course each day, with the lowest 67 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 1: total time determining the winner. Each of the sleds was 68 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 1: pulled by seven dogs, a lead dog and six others 69 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 1: arranged in pairs. The lead dogs were typically chosen because 70 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 1: of their ability to understand the voice commands of their 71 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 1: sled driver or musher. For example, when the driver calls 72 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: g or haw, the dog knows to make a right 73 00:04:56,160 --> 00:05:01,440 Speaker 1: turn or a left turn, respectively. Those direction commands were essential, 74 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 1: as a seven dog team would have been able to 75 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:06,840 Speaker 1: pull a sled and its driver at speeds of more 76 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:11,799 Speaker 1: than twenty miles per hour. The first race proved as grueling, 77 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 1: as Eva Celiad warned both for the dogs and for 78 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:21,480 Speaker 1: the drivers. For example, one of Leonard's Cepalia's dogs collapsed 79 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 1: five miles from the finish line and had to be 80 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:27,599 Speaker 1: carried over it in the sled. On the human side 81 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 1: of things, another driver finished the first race, but collapsed 82 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 1: from exhaustion after crossing the line. In the end. Despite 83 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 1: the initial setback of being one dog down, Alaskan driver 84 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 1: Leonard's Cepalia managed to finish second in both races each time, 85 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 1: though he was bested by Manitoba's a Meal Saint Goddar, 86 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 1: who managed to beat Cepalia by eight minutes total. That 87 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 1: victory proved to be par for the course, with Canada 88 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 1: taking five of the first seven places in each race. 89 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 1: Despite the somewhat tepid turnout for the nineteen thirty two 90 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:11,000 Speaker 1: Winter Games, the dog sled demonstration proved incredibly popular with 91 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:16,040 Speaker 1: those there. Tons of spectators reportedly lined the course. However, 92 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 1: as you may be aware, sled dog racing never gained 93 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:24,360 Speaker 1: official events status, unlike the other two demonstration events from 94 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:28,520 Speaker 1: that year. Ninety years later, there's still a lot of 95 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:32,279 Speaker 1: discussion about why the competition got the cold shoulder and 96 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 1: whether it might one day make a grand return to 97 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:39,720 Speaker 1: the Winter Games. One organization trying to make that happen 98 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:44,280 Speaker 1: is the International Federation of Sled Dog Sports, which has 99 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:48,200 Speaker 1: spent years petitioning the International Olympic Committee to grant the 100 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 1: sport official status. So why hasn't it happened? Well, part 101 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:56,359 Speaker 1: of it comes down to logistics. Depending on where the 102 00:06:56,400 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 1: Games are held, it could be extremely difficult and expect 103 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:03,919 Speaker 1: pensive to transport a bunch of dogs there to compete. 104 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:07,839 Speaker 1: There's also the question of whether dog sled racing should 105 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 1: really be considered a demonstration of human athletics. A similar 106 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:15,679 Speaker 1: debate has haunted the equestrian events of the Summer Games 107 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:20,040 Speaker 1: for decades. For now, the Olympic faatee of sled dog 108 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 1: racing remains in limbo. It's worth noting, though, that in 109 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:30,200 Speaker 1: a Harris poll, nearly one in four Americans about chose 110 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 1: dog sled racing as the sport they'd most like to 111 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:36,240 Speaker 1: see added to the Winter Games. It won by a 112 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:40,840 Speaker 1: decent margin, too, with the second most popular choice, snowmobiling, 113 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 1: claiming only sixteen percent. This suggests that nearly a century later, 114 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 1: there's still a lot of interest and enthusiasm for Olympic 115 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 1: sled dog races, although it should be mentioned that no 116 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 1: one has pulled the dogs to get their opinion, at 117 00:07:56,480 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 1: least not yet. I'm lousier and hopefully you now know 118 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 1: a little more about history today than you did yesterday. 119 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: You can learn even more about history by following us 120 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 1: on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at t d i HC Show, 121 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 1: and if you have any comments or suggestions, you can 122 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 1: also send them my way at this day at i 123 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 1: heart media dot com. Thanks to Chandler Mays for producing 124 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 1: the show, and thank you for listening. I'll see you 125 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 1: back here again tomorrow for another day in History class. 126 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:42,959 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from my Heart Radio, visit the i 127 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 1: Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to 128 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 1: your favorite shows.