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At this time 4 mushers have withdrawn from the 2009 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.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