Sled Dog

Starting next Sunday, many of the top sailors in the world will be racing out of the West River Sailing Club in Galesville during the Star North American Championships, running through Oct. 27.The list of entries in the 71-boat field reads like a who's who of championship racing, including Mark Reynolds, Rod Davis, Ross MacDonald, Vince Brun, Paul Cayard, John Kostecki and Bill Buchan.Reynolds (U.S), Davis (Australia) and MacDonald (Canada) were the gold, silver and bronze medalists in the class at the 1992 Olympics.

D'ANTOINE Webb, 14, is already a winner in this year's famed Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. His essay about the 1,150-mile Alaskan competition won a Baltimore Police Athletic League contest -- and earned D'Antoine a ride on the sled of investment adviser Dan Dent, who made his debut Sunday in the 10-day test. But Mr. Dent, the 57-year-old Baltimorean in only his fourth dog sled race, was an even bigger winner. Though forced from the race by dog bite injuries this week, Mr. Dent's attempt has inspired lots of local kids to pursue their dreams.

More than a year has passed since musher Al Hardman and his team of huskies finished Alaska's Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.So the Yak visited the musher at his home in Michigan to see how he and his dogs were doing.There was some sad news. Luka, 9, his top leader, died last August. Hardman was heartbroken."I really bonded with that dog," he said. "She always knew exactly what I wanted. I really miss her."The good news is that in May, two other females gave birth to 11 healthy puppies."This is Bear," said Hardman, introducing a puppy to the Yak. "He's the only one I've named so far. He looks like a polar bear; that's why I named him that."

Baltimore's Dan Dent made it across the ice-covered Bering Sea in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, and could reach the finish line in Nome, Alaska, sometime today. Dent, a 58-year-old investment banker, is in 62nd place in the 1,151-mile race from Anchorage to Nome. Fifty-four teams have completed the race, and 13 of the original field of 81 have dropped out, leaving 14 mushers on the course. The winner, Doug Swingley, finished Tuesday. Dent and his team of 14 huskies negotiated the treacherous 50-mile leg from Shaktoolik to Koyuk in a little less than six hours.

Running back to rejoin Ohio State football teamRobert Smith, who broke Archie Griffin's freshman rushing record at Ohio State in 1990 only to quit the team last August, will rejoin the team April 2 for spring practice.Coach John Cooper said Smith's decision wasn't related to the departure of offensive coordinator Elliott Uzelac, who Smith says told him to skip a class to attend practice. Uzelac, a former Navy head coach, denied saying that. Cooper said Smith decided to return to the team before Uzelac resigned last month.

Bowe fells Biggs twice in eighth for victoryHeavyweight contender Riddick Bowe dropped a bloodied Tyrell Biggs twice with a savage series of right uppercuts and overhands and stopped him in the eighth round of a heavyweight fight yesterday in Atlantic City, N.J.Referee Frank Capuccino stopped the bout at 2 minutes, 17 seconds of the eighth after Biggs (19-4) hit the canvas for the second time, going down under a flurry of rights from Bowe (22-0).Biggs had tried to withstand the onslaught after going down the first time from a stiff right to the head.

In another week or so, we'll all be plunged into the madness and stress of the holiday season. For today, though, pour yourself another cup of coffee and test your knowledge of pet trivia.The test0 Match these U.S. presidents with their dogs:1. Lyndon Johnson a. Rob Roy2. Franklin Roosevelt b. Him3. Gerald Ford c. Fala4. Calvin Coolidge d. Liberty5. Name the breeds of those presidential canines.6. During George Bush's presidency, a book "written" by the family's springer spaniel, Millie, was a best seller.

John defeats Patrick in McEnroes matchupJohn McEnroe said he found no particular joy in beating younger brother Patrick in the battle of the McEnroes yesterday in the final of the Volvo Indoor tennis tournament in Chicago."

More than 1,000 barking huskies; 55-below-zero temperatures; an old gold-mining town filled with Eskimos.For Severna Park veterinarian Carl Rogge, the last few weeks in Alaska had all the drama of a Jack London novel.Rogge traveled to Nome as one of about 30 veterinarians chosen totend 76 teams in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.The dogs racedalmost 1,200 miles from Anchorage to Nome, the winning team in a record 10 days and 19 hours.When the survivors reached Nome on the shores of the Bering Sea, Rogge was there to examine the dogs, checking gums and paws and dehydration levels.

Chances are, if you have a dog or cat, you've met Dr. Carl Rogge. A veterinarian in Severna Park for nearly 22 years, Dr. Rogge has been selected by the Greater Severna Park Chamber of Commerce as its Small Business Person of the Year.Besides taking care of county pets, Dr. Rogge twice has served as the official vet for canine participants in the annual Iditarod Sled Dog Race in Alaska."Although I found the Iditarod to be a real adventure, I find the everyday routine of the animal practice is still a stimulating challenge, and fun after all these years," he said.