ABOUT US
Black Magic Kennels has been featured on CBS This Morning, ESPN2′s Destination Outdoors, KBJR TV6, WDIO, KBJR (Duluth, MN), WCCO (Minneapolis, MN), Minnesota Monthly Magazine, Lake Superior Magazine, The Woman Today Magazine, Duluth News-Tribune, Cook County News Herald, Cook County Star, and numerous Minnesota print and television media.
MISSION STATEMENT:
To competitively run sled dogs while maintaining the highest standard of dog care possible. Black Magic Kennels believes in raising, training and racing a “happy” dog team.
Mark Black, Winner of the 2005 Beargrease Marathon
Year started in sled dogs: 1977
Year started racing sled dogs: 1979
Height: 6′ 6″
Most memorable racing moment: Finishing my first Beargrease Marathon in 1993
Something interesting: I have run the more Beargrease Marathons than anyone else to-date, fifteen: 1985, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008. I didn’t run in 2002 as I ran the Iditarod instead, in 2004 Mary was on the runner for the race and in 2007 there wasn’t a Beargrease due to lack of snow. 2010 will mark my retirement from the marathon. After 25 years and 16 of them, it’s time. Plus Mary said she’s retiring from handling for the marathon 
Winner of the 1993 & 1996 Beargrease Marathon and 1993 Wildcat Mushers Marathon Best Kept Team Award
Year started in sled dogs: 1989
Year started racing sled dogs: 1995
Most Memorable Racing Moment: It’s a toss-up between finishing my one and only Beargrease Marathon in 2004 and finishing my first race the 6-dog Mid-Minnesota race in 1995.
Something interesting: I don’t know if it’s interesting but I don’t know if I will run another Beargrease Marathon.
Winner of the 2004 Beargrease Marathon Best Kept Team Award
In 2009, we had a 23-year-old gal from Eagan, MN call us interested in being a handler for the winter. A day later she drove up to check us and her living quarters out and a week later, was living in our handler cabin. As fall and winter wore on, we knew we had someone special with us and we were able to let her race some youngsters in the 30-mile WolfTrack Classic race in Ely in March. With Mark retiring from the Beargrease Marathon and changing our kennels focus to mid-distance racing in 2011, we’ve asked Tara to come back this fal. We will put her on the runners this winter with our main crew at races. She’s lighter than us, in much better shape and the dogs love her. She says she’ll be back in September and we certainly hope so!
Tara McGovern
Year started in sled dogs:
2009
Year started racing sled dogs:
2010
Most Memorable Moment:
Running my first race the 2010 WolfTrack Classic 6-dog race…half of the trail didnd’t have snow!
Something Interesting:
I would have beat Mary and her team if I didn’t have to carry a 60-lb. dog for close to half of the race!
