1,100-Mile Iditarod Race Begins
The festivities are over, and the serious competition began Sunday in the 1,100-mile (1,770-kilometer) Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
Under sunny skies, the drivers of 71 dog teams took off from frozen Willow Lake to begin the race to the old gold rush town of Nome on Alaska's western coast.
Lingering was the carnival atmosphere of Saturday's 11-mile (17-kilometer) ceremonial start in Alaska's largest city, Anchorage, 50 miles (80 kilometers) to the south. But mushers were focused on racing for real with their 16-dog teams.
"Get the heck out of dodge, just like all the other mushers," said veteran Zack Steer. "You know, we want to hit the trail."
Three-time champion Lance Mackey of Fairbanks is seeking his fourth consecutive win, and is among five past Iditarod winners in the race.
Defending champion Lance Mackey is seeking his fourth consecutive win. The 39-year-old Alaskan, among five past Iditarod winners in this year's field, signed autographs and posed with fans Saturday as he made last-minute checks on his dogs. He said he's hoping to reach Nome first — if that's what his dogs are up for.
"I won't be disappointed if I come in third or 23rd, as long as my team looks happy and healthy doing it," he said. "If I get to Nome and I question 'Well, what if I had done this, or what if I had done that?' then I'd be disappointed."
Canadian Hans Gatt became a four-time winner of the 1,000-mile (1,600-kilometer) Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race in February, and is also running in Alaska. Mackey also has won that race four times, and is the only musher to win the back-to-back Quest and Iditarod in the same year — a feat he's accomplished twice.
For the first time in Iditarod history, mushers will be tested for drugs and alcohol along the trail. Anyone testing positive would face disqualification.
The Iditarod began testing the sled dogs for prohibited substances in 1994.
Mackey, a throat cancer survivor, has been open about using medical marijuana in past Iditarods. He said he is honoring the drug rule, which has existed in some form since 1984 but was never strictly enforced.
In another first, a Jamaican musher is the first Caribbean entry in the Iditarod.
Newton Marshall, a 26-year-old resident of St. Anne Parish, has been training with Mackey this winter. Sponsored by Margaritaville icon Jimmy Buffett, Marshall completed the Yukon Quest last year as a rookie.
The poor economy has forced Iditarod organizers to stage the race with a diminished budget.
Race officials say they lost almost $1 million in funding after video deals collapsed and major sponsors dropped their support. Cushioning the blow somewhat, Exxon Mobil has pledged $250,000 annually in a five-year deal, and the city of Nome donated $50,000 earlier this year.
The total purse is $590,000 — down from a high of $925,000 in 2008 — with $50,000 of this year's prize money donated by four-time champion Jeff King, who also is competing. The winner's take is a new Dodge truck and $50,000, compared with $69,000 of past years.
More than anything else, what Scottish rookie Wattie McDonald wants is the Iditarod belt buckle awarded to every first-timer who completes the race. On hand to cheer on the 46-year-old Stonehaven resident with his dream Saturday were family and friends from home, braving subfreezing temperatures in kilts. McDonald also wore a kilt and his dogs wore red tartan coats in their ceremonial run.
"Belt buckle is mine," McDonald proclaimed. "Anything else is a bonus."
By Associated Press Writer Rachel D'Oro