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Monthly Archives: October 2008

“Toughest Race On Earth” New Time & Day

Date: October 31, 2008 at 1:04 pm

Discovery Channel announced yesterday (October 30) that“Toughest Race on Earth: Iditarod” is moving to Fridays at 8pm ET/PT starting next Friday, November 7.  The Toughest Race will be paired with new episodes of “Survivorman” (the new season premieres on the 7th at 9pm)!  

Posted by Iditarod Staff in Race Coverage

Mackey To Appear on Conan O’Brien

Date: October 9, 2008 at 8:22 am

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.

Posted by Iditarod Staff in Race Coverage

New Signups at October 1 Deadline

Date: October 2, 2008 at 12:24 pm

 Wasilla Alaska, (October 02, 2008) THE IDITAROD TRAIL COMMITTEE closed its first withdrawal deadline for the 2009 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race at 12 noon AST (yesterday) October 1st . Iditarod Trail Committee race rules provide for mushers who withdraw from the race on or before 12 noon October 1, 2008, a full refund of their $4,000 entry fee.

Since June 28, 2008, when 68 mushers either mailed in their applications or signed up in person at the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Headquarters, five additional mushers have submitted their applications.  The latest entry is a rookie from Marquette Michigan, Tim Hunt.

At this time 4 mushers have withdrawn from the 2009 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. They are;

  • Sylvia Willis- who withdrew on July 17, 2008
  • William Pinkham- who withdrew on September 8, 2008
  • Sigrid Ekran- who withdrew on September 15, 2008
  • Rick Horstmann- who withdrew on September 26, 2008

As of today (October 2nd, 2008) the IDITAROD XXXVVII field is at 68 mushers including five Iditarod Champions (five time champion Rick Swenson, four time champions Jeff King and Martin Buser, two time and defending champion Lance Mackey and 2004 champion Mitch Seavey.

Please log on to http://www.iditarod.com/ for more complete musher information, including interesting biographies of each musher in the 2009 field. Contact Chas St.George (Director Public Relations) at 907.352.2215 if you require any further information about the 2009 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

Posted by Iditarod Staff in Race Coverage