Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

SI Staff | Mar 11, 2009

Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

37th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

AP

It's a dog party in Alaska. More than 1,000 dogs and 67 mushers turned out at the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The competitors will traverse through more than 1,100 miles of deep snow with the hopes of winning the $610,000 purse. Last year, Lance Mackey won his second title. Who will be crowned this year's champion?

37th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

AP

Rick Larson puts booties on his sled dog as they ready for the big race.

37th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

AP

Four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King is one win away from tying the record for most titles.

37th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

AP

After winning the 2009 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race just two weeks prior, Canadian musher Sebastian Schnuelle took an early lead in this year's Iditarod.

37th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

AP

Kazen, one of musher Warren Palfrey's sled dogs, got some rest before the race.

37th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

AP

Lance Mackey has his sights set on a third Iditarod championship.

37th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

AP

Four-time champ Martin Buser (far left) leads his team during the ceremonial start of the race on Saturday.

37th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

AP

Musher Hans Gatt drives his team down the start chute to begin the race in Willow, Alaska.

37th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

AP

In 2007, Lance Mackey became the first musher to win both the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod in the same year. He repeated the feat in 2008.

37th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

AP

Mac, a member of Jeff Holt's team, peers out of his box prior to the start of the race.

37th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

AP

This year, 67 mushers entered the race, down from a record 96 last year.

37th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

AP

After leaving the start, teams of 12 to 16 dogs travel from Anchorage, in south central Alaska, to Nome on the western Bering Sea coast.