Frank Turner may have retired from the Yukon Quest but his son, Saul, 25, says it's only going to help him.

'I think I can use it to my advantage,' Saul said in a recent interview. 'He will be highly involved leading up to the (2006) race.'

Frank is a living legend in the history of the race's 1,600-km trek alternating between Fairbanks and Whitehorse. He is the only person to run in all 22 races.

The former Ontarian announced his retirement earlier this year, but Saul was among the first 16 people to sign up for the race on July 2.

'I want to make sure it's his race,' Frank says of his son's involvement.

He says he'll be available to give help and advice to his son, but adds that mushing is about the relationship with the dogs, and much of the preparations will be left to decisions Saul will have to make.

'I would pick dogs I relate to well,' he says. 'Other dogs may work better for him.'

Saul says he'll be working at creating a plan for both the team and the race with his father.

But he's already planning on trying some new things that his father has not done in the past. The tactics include changing some of the running strategies, taking down some of the weight on the sled and trying to put in a few more kilometres a little earlier.

'It's going to be up to me and how far I can push myself,' says Saul.

He says he isn't running to win the race, but instead just wants to prevent injuries and get to the end.

'I'll concentrate on me and run my own race,' he says.

Frank says he'll be sticking to helping with the handling and has no plans to renege on his retirement before the registration deadline in December.

'Saul's interest in running the race made it an easier transition,' he says.

Frank says he kept running the race because he really enjoyed it and he felt it was important to stop before he didn't savour it anymore.

'After 22 times, it wasn't quite the same thrill it was earlier,' he says.

He says he really enjoyed this year's race, where he placed seventh, and wanted to end his time on the Quest on that high note.

Frank won the competition in 1995 and 2000. He still holds the record for the fastest winning time for his performance in 1995, completing the race in 10 days, 16 hours and 18 minutes.

He has also won the Challenge of the North Award, the Veterinarian's Choice Award and the Mayor's Award over his years on the Quest.

Saul says it's a little intimidating going into the race as his father's son, but adds, 'I have the opportunity to go into it with open eyes.'

He'll be working over the next several months to try to put together the best team possible. Frank adds they already have a pretty good idea about who the top dogs are at their Muktuk Kennels near Whitheorse.

'The team I'll be able to put together will be pretty good,' says Saul.

He has been running dogs on and off for his entire life, but has become more focused on the sport over the last few years. He placed 14th in the Copper Basin race this year and also ran in the Percy de Wolfe race in 2004.

Saul is among five other Yukoners currently signed onto the Quest and is currently one of six rookies heading into the February 2006 race.

Among the current mushers are this year's champion, Lance Mackey, and Kiara Adams, who will be the second-youngest person ever to run the Quest at just 18 years of age.

On Monday, Sebastian Schnuelle, 35, a resident of Whitehorse and a veteran to the race in which he placed ninth in 2005 and 10th in 2004, won the 2006 Yukon Quest Early Entry Incentive draw. His prize includes having his $1,000-entry fee returned and 500 cloth dog booties.

There will be two other incentive draws taking place on Aug. 10 and Sept. 10 for mushers registering prior to the end of July and the end of August, respectively.