Lance Mackey was first across the finish line a little past 8 pm last night in Nome to take first place in this year’s Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Mackey’s first place finish edged out second place winner Paul Gebhardt by more than two hours. But as APRN trail reporter Ellen Lockyer tells us, the two mushers were neck and neck most of the way to Nome.
(Be sure to listen to the attached audio report to hear Mackey’s thoughts on the race as well as quotes from Gebhardt.)
Ten mushers have now crossed the finish line in Nome. Zack Steer was third, Martin Buser 4th and Jeff King 5th. Ed Iten, Ken Anderson, John Baker, Mitch Seavey and Tollef Monson rounded out the top ten. Many more mushers are still on the trail. Rookie Ellen Halverson has the Red Lantern in Grayling.
A second dog died in the race today. Officials say a three-year-old male named Thong in the team of Matt Hayashida died this morning on the trail between Koyuk and Elim. Race Marshal Mark Nordman reviewed Thong’s death, and found there was no reason to prohibit the musher from continuing in the race. He said a necropsy will be conducted to determine the cause of the dog’s death.
UPDATE: Removed the references to “60 more mushers” on the trail, as there are 60 mushers total still in the race, but not 60 on the trail itself.
I anticipate the annual public outcry over Iditarod dogs that die during the race, from people who consider dog teams as being a form of torture exerted by glory-hog and money hungry dog mushers. I believe those who say that should focus their energy on those dogs that have died in Anchorage since March 4 (the first day of the Iditarod) and their dog owners that bred them, then mistreated and/or neglected their dogs. Ten years or so ago, I remember reading the story about the animal rights group trying to shut down the Iditarod because of it’s maltreatment of dogs. Then, as I drove to work that morning, there was a dead dog in the road. A dog that died alone, probably scared, probably hungry and most likely never missed by it’s owner.