Ok, so I asked my mom about the recipe, and it sounds like she pretty much shoots from the hip. She said almonds ground to dust in the food processor, apricots, dates, and dried cranberries, in no partcular quantities. And sometimes chocolate chips, but my dad doesn't like chocolate.
What other evolution(s) do you feel has created the most beneficial improvement(s) for the sport? Are there any specific improvements you feel are works in progress and if so, what are they? "Again just better dogs, and our understanding of what they can do." I remember we spent years trying to find the silver bullet, some supplement or trick that would elevate us to the winners circle. We always thought our dogs were as good as anyone elses. But now that we really have the athletes, we feel that everything else (besides feeding) matters less and less. Michael Jordan could make any coach look good, and the same applies to sled dogs.
How's Tread doing these days? Any new funny Tread stories you'd care to share? "Tread turned 13 in July, but he's still doing well, and he always barks and gets excited when we hook up. This fall, I was running some puppies and decided to throw him in lead. He got all excited, barking like crazy, then we took off. He made it to the first corner (about 300 yards), and he made it clear he was ready to turn around and go home. I guess he's to the point it's more fun to bark than actually go." Our whole lot is set up in sections: my dad's team, the b string, the yearlings, retirees, etc. mostly because each group gets fed differently. Tread, however, still lives in his house in the "A team" lot, and my dad still feeds him race food. It makes him feel important
And i'm sure you all know about his rock.
anyhow, that's it for now. there are some good questions about the family i still haven't gotten to, but i have to go run while it's light out. more this evening, and thanks for all the good questions.