2007 Iditarod: And They’re Off!
We’ve just finished watching the official start of the 2007 Iditarod via streaming video:
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Eighty-two teams and about 1,000 howling dogs lined up Saturday in downtown Anchorage for the ceremonial start of the 35th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race — the longest sled dog race in the world.
Defending champion and four-time winner Jeff King looked relaxed, sending his daughter to the coffee shop around the corner to get him a latte as he waited for his turn to let his dogs loose on the Iditarod trail.
Given the tough trail conditions this year — hard-packed snow and bare ground — King said he expects a bumpy ride. That’s not a problem, he said.
“The Iditarod trail will never be easy,” the 51-year-old King said.
Not easy, indeed. We’ll know who the winner is in nine or ten days time.
On the one hand the weather this year is colder than it has been for a year or so, which could make for faster times but on the other hand the paucity of snow in some stretches of the trail may slow things done.
Look here for the official standings. They’re updated as things change.
Previous posts on this subject:
For the facts about the cruelties Iditarod dogs are forced to endure visit the Sled Dog Action Coalition website: http://www.helpsleddogs.org
[ed. I believe that this comment is automated spam. I have gone to the site linked and found it to contain half-truths and outright lies. It is impossible to force a dog to pull a sled for any distance whatever. To say otherwise is just plain ignorant of dogs, generally, and sleddogs in particular. The dogs do it because that’s what they were bred to do and because they love it.
Dogs that participate in the Iditarod in particular are very well-treated and loved by their owners. The Iditarod itself is very well-regulated and the dogs are carefully examined throughout the race by veterinarians. To the best of my recollection no dog has died of abuse in the history of the race.]