Iditarod: They're off and running
A record field of 96 mushers took off from Willow, Alaska today in the start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, an 1,150-mile endurance test that ends in Nome.
The teams made their ceremonial ride through Anchorage yesterday, where wind chills were around zero.
This year's $875,000 purse will be shared among the top 30 finishers. There are six past winners in the race this year, including last year's winner, and throat cancer survivor, Lance Mackey.
I was in Nome many years ago -- back before the Internet was invented -- for the race's finish. So I can assure you that, nowadays, there is a much warmer and better way -- at least in terms of seeing the action -- to watch the race.
For $19.95, one can go to Iditarod.com and sign up as an "Iditarod Insider," gaining access to exclusive footage of the race, incuding live streaming video of the start and finish. Proceeds go to the Iditarod Trail Committee.
It's almost worth that much to see the breathtaking scenery alone. For a taste of what it's all about, and to see the official (free) 18-minute preview video of the 2008 Iditarod, click here. (For best results, let it load before viewing.)
Comments
I was raised on "The Call of the Wild," and I look forward to reading about this race every year. I was thinking as I watched the video that it's too bad we can't bring Jack London back. He might write for us a novel relating the adventures of a single pit bull the way he related the adventures of Buck.
Posted by: Anne | March 2, 2008 10:38 PM
Any competitive 'sport' employing animals will always rank the welfare of the animal as secondary to winning.
Posted by: EN Benjamin | March 3, 2008 12:20 PM
After reading a few years ago about what really goes on in the name of the Iditarod that is rarely mentioned in public print, I find the Iditarod completely barbaric and believe it's time has come and gone. At least 133 dogs have died and there are many injuries. For more information, PLEASE check this out: http://helpsleddogs.org/
Note the picture on the home page of one of the dogs on the team being dragged by the dog team while the 'racer' is apparently sleeping in the sled. Not to mention how they're treated when not racing.
Posted by: Linda | March 4, 2008 7:07 PM
Ditto to Linda's post.
Posted by: L Anderson | March 5, 2008 7:59 PM