The U.P. 200 Sled Dog Championship kicks off in warm temperatures on Feb. 17 in downtown Marquette on West Washington Street. (Journal file photo)

MARQUETTE — The Upper Peninsula Sled Dog Association recently announced changes to this year’s U.P. 200 Sled Dog Championship races.

Starting in downtown Marquette, the U.P. 200 is a 12-dog race that takes mushers on a 230-mile route to Grand Marais and back, finishing at Mattson Lower Harbor Park in Marquette.

≤ Assisted Checkpoint: The UPSDA Board of Directors approved a significant change for U.P. 200 mushers. Mushers who are not using the U.P. 200 as an Iditarod qualifier may have handler assistance at the Wetmore upbound checkpoint on the way to Grand Marais. In collaboration with checkpoint host Timber Products, the UPSDA will now allow mushers to have an assisted checkpoint while maintaining the unassisted checkpoint for Iditarod qualifying mushers. Access to the Wetmore upbound Timber Products checkpoint will be limited to mushers, handling crews and race officials, resulting in a quieter checkpoint to maximize quiet rest time and location security.

≤ Purse Increase: The UPSDA board also approved raising the 2018 purse for each of the three February races: U.P. 200, Midnight Run and Jack Pine 30. While race entry fees will remain unchanged for 2018, the purse was increased by $10,000 and spread over the three races. The ratio of purse money among the races was kept the same as was the distribution through the finish placings. The result is that each prize-winning place will see a share of the additional funds.

≤ Registration and Drawing for 50 percent refund: Registration for the U.P. 200, Midnight Run and Jack Pine 30 opened Oct. 16. All mushers who complete registration by Nov. 15 will be entered into a drawing to receive a 50 percent refund of the paid entry fee. There will be one winning musher for each race.

Race dates are Feb.15-19, including musher meetings and awards ceremonies. Registration and race information can be found on the UPSDA website at www.UP200.org.