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Last season's Yukon Quest winner believes he has what it takes to repeat as champion, if for only one reason.

"I've got a dog named Walter,鈥� Hugh Neff said Friday night at the Yukon Quest 30th birthday celebrations held at the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre. "To me, that's all that matters. He's the reason I won the race last year.

"I was behind by an hour the last day of the race,鈥� the 45-year-old Alaskan told the Star. "I think sometimes in life, it's not about how fast you are or how strong you are, it's about do you know where you're going? To have dogs that know this trail back and forth 鈥� it's a big advantage.鈥�

Neff beat fellow Quest veteran Allen Moore to the finish line in Whitehorse by just 26 seconds in February 鈥� the closest finish in the sled dog race's history.

Neff's seven-year-old lead dog Walter was instrumental down the stretch, eventually winning the Golden Harness award.

"I'm still in shock to tell you the truth,鈥� Neff said of his near photo-finish victory.

"I spent three days straight at the 98 (Hotel). Like I tell all the people that have been hoping that I'd win this race: I'm sorry it took so long. I tell everybody it took a while, but we did it in style.鈥�

Neff collected $28,395 in prize money for winning the 29th Quest.

"I won my integrity is the way I look at it,鈥� Neff said. "Money comes, money goes. We're not racing for as much as we were maybe four or five years ago, but we're still here and it's because of our passion for life.

"It's all just a party,鈥� he said of his new-found celebrity status.

"It's weird because we do a lot of gigs and we travel and talk to a lot of people, but I feel more comfortable sitting in a dog yard, barking at a bunch of dogs. That's where I feel at home.鈥�

The 2013 Quest will mark the defending champion's 13th running of the 1,000 mile race.

It also marks the 30th anniversary of the race itself.

The pre-race festivities kicked off Friday night with a Long John Masquerade held at Mount McIntyre. The evening featured Quest memorabilia, mushing-themed competitions, and a dance.

Quest board president Joost van der Putten believes the event was an appropriate beginning for the anniversary celebrations.

"It's a great start,鈥� he said Friday. "We have lots of mushers showing up, lots of people who are somehow involved with the race showing up, so we're really happy with what's happening today.鈥�

Birthday celebrations complete, preparations will now begin to ramp up for the Quest which begins Feb. 2 in Whitehorse.

Being a milestone year, van der Putten said the Quest committee is attempting to reconnect with the Quest's first slate of racers, as well as champions from years past.

"It would be awesome if we could succeed in that,鈥� he said. "We're reconnecting with people from the first races, which is great to learn how things were going at that time and to get them reconnected to the Yukon Quest.鈥�

van der Putten's goal is to have 30 mushers compete in the 30th running of the Quest, but he admitted a more realistic goal is 25 competitors.

"The 1,000 miles is something awesome,鈥� he said. "It's a real challenge. It's not something that you just put dogs in front of the sled and run it. So you really have to prepare your team. And that preparation goes back almost a year.鈥�

To date, 22 mushers have registered, including seven Canadians.

Normand Casavant of Whitehorse, Ed Hopkins of Tagish, and Brian Wilmshurst of Dawson City will represent the Yukon.

"It's not that bad for the population that we are here in Yukon,鈥� Casavant said of the number of local mushers. "I think it's good. It's really good.鈥�

The 2013 Quest will mark the third time the 50-year-old will compete.

"I would like to finish in the top five, so that is what I'm going to work for,鈥� Casavant told the Star. "I think that I can do something good if I don't do any mistakes. It's always the same. You never know. It's a long distance race. You never know.鈥�

Casavant currently competes with no sponsorship, but hopes a top finish will propel him into the spotlight for future races.

As for Neff, he's raring to go. He said strategy changes with the start of the race moving to the Yukon capital. His mind will be fixed on a 3,685-foot mountain near Fairbanks.

"Two words 鈥� Eagle Summit,鈥� Neff said. "That's what we're all going to be thinking about, especially me. You get older 鈥� you learn to be a little more patient in life hopefully.

"I'm a pretty hyper person, but you learn to gauge your momentum and keep the energy together and just wait for the right moment to strike.鈥�

Until February though, he's enjoying representing the international sled dog race as current champion.

"You have to imagine, I've been to Australia, Germany, all over the world,鈥� he said.

"I hope people in Whitehorse and in Alaska realize that, you know, we feel like we're in these small communities in the North, but we're being watched all over the world. It feels good. To me, the North is one of the most unique places in the world.鈥�

By MARCEL VANDER WIER

Star Sports Editor