When 57 mushers line up Sunday for the official start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, it will be the second-smallest field in the past two decades. Only last year’s field of 52 was smaller.
FILE - In this March 11, 2009 file photo Matt Hayashida of Willow, Alaska drives his team alone the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race trail near the Takotna, Alaska checkpoint. When 57 mushers line up Sunday, March 8, 2020, for the official start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, it will be the second-smallest field in the past two decades.
“This year we’ve had a lot of snow. I won’t ever say too much snow. But it’s been a challenge to get trail put in,” race director Mark Nordman said. “It’s been a traditional colder winter like we used to have 10 years ago.” Kaiser believes the recent decrease in mushers could just be cyclical as mushers can afford to race for only one year and then have to work to build up cash for another race. Smaller purses don't help.
Sponsorships are important not only to the mushers but to the Iditarod's overall financial health. Officials deem them so important that during the race’s annual meeting for media, they invited representatives from the Iditarod's biggest sponsors — not the mushers — to address reporters. This year, sponsors touted the good dog care mushers provide and tried to blunt criticism by the race's most vocal critic, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Too much snow will make the Iditarod exceptionally difficult this yearAn 'epic amount of snow' awaits the mushers this year, according to Mark Nordman, the race marshal. Many areas along the route from Anchorage to Nome are more than five feet deep
Read more »
Biden Outperforming Sanders In Counties With Lower Incomes, More Voters Of ColorAn NPR analysis of 1,200 counties across five key demographics offers a first look at how a diverse swath of the country is voting so far in the Democratic presidential primary race.
Read more »
The Backstory: A look inside the newsroom – and across the country – on Super Tuesday'Virginia, Biden. Vermont, Bernie,' politics editor Kristen DelGuzzi yells across our Washington newsroom. It's Super Tuesday. The clock just hit 7 p.m.
Read more »
Nicole Scherzinger's unrecognisable smooth face with juicy lips surprises fansNicole Scherzinger's looks have been ever-changing since she kick started her career in the limelight as a singer
Read more »
California nurse claims CDC withheld coronavirus test after they fell ill caring for COVID-19 patientThe nurse had volunteered to look after a coronavirus patient and says they were denied testing by the CDC when they started to display similar symptoms.
Read more »