WILLOW, Alaska (AP) — The festivities are over and the serious competition has begun in 1,100-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
The drivers of 71 dog teams are taking off Sunday from frozen Willow Lake to begin the race to the old gold rush town of Nome on Alaska’s western coast.
Largely gone is the carnival atmosphere of Saturday’s 11-mile ceremonial start in Anchorage, 50 miles to the south. Mushers are now focused on racing for real.
Three-time champion Lance Mackey of Fairbanks is seeking his fourth consecutive win. He is among five past Iditarod winners in the race.
Canadian Hans Gatt, also in the running, in February became a four-time winner of the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race. Mackey has won that race four times.
