Arctic breeds Samoyeds and Siberian huskies, along with more traditional breeds like pointers, will be racing on forest tracks in the Central Otago Classic Sled Dog Race meeting.
The race is being organised by the Otago Sled Dog Racing Association, which was formed in March. Secretary Rose Voice, who has had 20 years of ''running dogs'', said more than 24 teams from all over the South Island were coming to the event, including one from Nelson.
In the two-day event, teams of between two and eight dogs and a ''musher'' would compete in a 13km race.
In other events, dogs would pull scooters, mountain bikes and ''three-wheeled rigs''.
The race would be held on private forestry land but members of the public could watch.
The meeting would include a ''cani-cross'' race, where people would run with their dogs in 4km or 7km races.
Sleds in the race would be ''wheeled'' because the dogs would tow them through the forest on a track of pine needles and gravel.
Two or three weeks of preparation was normal for a dog team before the event, which Mrs Voice said would be ''very competitive''.
But for the most part, the event was about the dogs.
''The dogs are well looked after. They have a good time and that's the main thing.''
There would be no junior races but family teams had entries in the race, she said.
Some funding for the event had come from Maniototo Community Trust Fund, and some from her business, Real Dog, which she runs with her husband, Nigel Voice, but it was mostly the event was run by a ''small group of dedicated volunteers''.
The event, which will be signposted, will begin on Fennessy Rd, Naseby at 7.30am on Saturday and Sunday.
