For the first time in Iditarod History, the Iditarod Trail Committee will host its annual Wells Fargo Mushers’ Drawing Banquet in a venue that seats up to 2200 people; the new Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center in downtown Anchorage. It all happens on March 5th 2009. The Wells Fargo Mushers’ Drawing Banquet has great significance in meaning, as all mushers must be present to “draw” their race position prior to the race start on Saturday, March 7, 2009. The banquet has evolved over the years and the demand for tickets to this spectacular event has meant that many race fans could not attend because tickets usually sold out well in advance.

The Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center is Alaska’s newest gem located in downtown Anchorage. It boasts phenomenal acoustics and great viewing opportunities for all who come to be a part of the 2009 Wells Fargo Mushers’ Drawing Banquet. This year, for the first time, race fans can purchase their tickets in advance on www.iditarod.com. For more information about how easy it is just click here.

Then get ready to meet each of the mushers who are entered in the 2009 edition of “The Last Great Race on Earth”. Prepare to enjoy a wonderful dinner along with significant amounts of both fun and frivolity!

On December 1^st   2008 The Iditarod Trail Committee will launch its 2009 Idita-Rider Auction on www.iditarodauction.com.  Winning Idita-Riders have the opportunity to enjoy the first leg of IDITAROD XXXVII (approximately 11 miles) from one of the very best vantage points in the race; right behind a team of Iditarod canine athletes!

This year’s auction will include the Iditarod’s exclusive Ultimate Adventure package for $15,000. The package features a sled of choice and an overnight at Rainy Pass Lodge to watch the front runners come through Rainey Pass Checkpoint in the heart of the Alaska Range.

Minimum bids start at $500 but you can guarantee your sled of choice by bidding $7,500.  The closing date for the 2009 Idita-Rider Auction is January 23, 2009.

Proceeds from the Idita-Rider Auction help to benefit the individual mushers who complete the 2008 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in the form of prize money.

For more information on the IditaRider Auction please contact Deby Trosper (Idita-Rider Musher Auction Coordinator) at 800-566-7533 or at iditarauction@iditarod.com.

Versus named Lance Mackey “The Toughest Athlete on the Planet” and now late night talk show host Conan O’Brien will get a chance to meet the two time Iditarod Champion up close and personal tonight on NBC.  Mackey is appearing on the show to talk about Discovery’s new six part series titled “The Toughest Race on Earth: Iditarod” which begins airing on October 14th at 10 pm eastern time. 

Lance talked about the opportunity to head to New York at Monday night’s Discovery screening in Anchorage Alaska, hosted by Iditarod Presenting Sponsor, General Communications Inc (GCI).

“It’s going to be a lot of fun… I know the guy’s (O’Brien) got a very keen sense of humor, and right now there’s a lot of Alaska material to pick from…including the Iditarod.  I’m up for it!” said Mackey.

The Conan O’Brien Show airs at midnight tonight right after the Jay Leno Show!  Don’t miss it.

The Iditarod always knew how tough two time Champion Lance Mackey was.  After all Lance is the only athlete to win back to back 1000 mile plus championships including the Grandaddy of them all “The Last Great Race on Earth”.  ESPN knew; they nominated Lance twice as for the coveted ESPY Award.  Now the world knows that when the people get a chance to vote (and vote they did) The Toughest Athlete on the Planet is Lance Mackey!

Versus, a media partner of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, conducted their Red White Black and Blue (RWBB)  ”Cam Pain” to see just who was the toughest athlete on Earth with 32 contestants.  On September 15th, Lance was neck and neck with just one other competitor “Team Hoyt”, a triathlon duo of father Dick Hoyt and son Rick, who has severe brain damage.

The last few hours of the online competition were a testament to the phenomenal fan base of “Lance fans” that that has grown over the last couple of years. Mackey’s lead  (which was only a few tenths of a percentage point) grew into a more than six point lead at the end of the day!

Lance beat out the likes of Bret Farve and another Lance… Lance Armstrong during the competition, but this was a race he could not have won without the support of Iditarod Race fans from around the globe.  That’s another thing the Iditarod has always known… this race has ”The Greatest Fans in the World.”

Congrats Lance!

– Mushers and Their Sled Dog Teams endure more than a thousand miles of Unforgiving Alaskan Wilderness along the Iditarod Trail in Hopes of Making it Across the Finish Line –

(Wasilla, Alaska) – The Iditarod Trail Committee is proud to announce that the TOUGHEST RACE ON EARTH: IDITAROD, will premier Tuesday, October 7 at 10 PM ET/PT, on Discovery Channel. The six hour miniseries follows mushers and their sled dog teams across more than a thousand miles of rugged terrain as they take on Mother Nature – and each other – in The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

For TOUGHEST RACE ON EARTH: IDITAROD, Discovery Channel followed seven mushers and their dog teams – both race rookies and race legends. Mushers featured in Discovery Channel’s new series include:  Four-time Iditarod Champions Jeff King and Martin Buser, Iditarod rookie Rick Holt, pioneering musher and breast cancer survivor DeeDee Jonrowe, two-time Iditarod finisher and diabetic Bruce Linton race rookie Darin Nelson, along with two-time Iditarod champion Lance Mackey.

The Iditarod Trail is steeped in history.  It was originally used as a mail and supply route from the coastal towns of Seward and Knik to the interior mining camps and eventually all the way to Nome.  Mail and supplies went in and gold came out – powered by sled dog.  Mushers (dog drivers) became legends.  In 1925, part of the trail became a life-saving highway.  Mushers and their dog teams were called upon to bring serum to epidemic-stricken Nome and save the town from Diphtheria that had overtaken it.  The Iditarod is a commemoration of those brave and legendary mushers and their faithful dogs.

TOUGHEST RACE ON EARTH: IDITAROD is produced for Discovery Channel by Original Productions.  Thom Beers and Phillip Segal are executive producers and Jeff Conroy is co-executive producer.  For Discovery Channel, Paul Gasek is executive producer.

Log on to http://www.iditarod.com/ to take a look at Discovery’s promotional trailer of “THE TOUGHEST RACE ON EARTH: IDITAROD.”