Mackey’s Comeback Kennel announced on its Facebook page that Mackey passed away Wednesday night after what the post said was “a long battle with cancer.”
He had survived a bout with throat cancer 20 years ago, but was re-diagnosed last year.
Mackey lived in the Fairbanks area. And he has been a fixture in long-distance sled dog racing for many years. He won the Yukon Quest four years in a row, starting in 2005. He’s also the only musher to win the Iditarod four straight years.
The 1,000-mile races are held just a month apart. He became the only musher to win both races in the same year in 2007. A feat many thought impossible. And then he did it again the next year.
Mackey is survived by his two young children.
Editor's note: This story will be updated.