USA: DOG SLED RACING - Sled dog teams gather for the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail race in Alaska

Sled-dog teams trotted through the chilly streets of Anchorage on Saturday in a festive atmosphere marking the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. To ease the passage for the 82 mushers and their dogs, city officials covered the streets of Alaska's biggest city with snow for the 10-mile (16-km) run. Relaxed mushers signed autographs, posed for pictures and socialized with one another and the fans who lined the streets. The timed competition in the 1,100-mile (1,770-km) race will start on Sunday 80 miles (128 km) north in Willow. In contrast to past years when only a few mushers were considered favorites in the world's most famous sled-dog race, this year's field has many accomplished racers with a good chance of being first to the finish line in Nome, according to competitors. This year's field includes six past champions and several consistent top-five finishers. The most solemn part of Saturday's ceremonies was a tribute to Susan Butcher, the four-time champion who died last year of leukemia. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski presented Butcher's husband and daughters with a U.S. flag that had flown in the musher's honor over the U.S. Capitol, and the race announcer read a proclamation from Gov. Sarah Palin. Butcher's daughters then launched a sled-dog trek through the city to lead the Iditarod racers, with 11-year-old Tekla driving and a weeping 6-year Chisana bundled up in the sled.

ITN Source | March 5, 2007

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