DATE:        Monday, March 16, 2009

TO:            
Race Officials

Race Veterinarians

Media

Volunteers

FROM:        Mark Nordman, Race Marshal

Earlier today (at approximately 2pm Alaska Time) Iditarod Race officials deployed an Iditarod Air Force (IAF) aircraft to check on the whereabouts of Iditarod Rookies Lou Packer (bib #43), Kim Darst (bib #52) and Blake Matray (bib #9).  All three mushers were overdue on their run to Shageluk.  Packer was located approximately 22 miles past Iditarod. He signaled that he was in distress.  The (IAF) pilot landed and found that two of Packer’s 15 dogs were deceased. A plane load of dogs were immediately flown out and a second flight is underway to airlift Packer and the remainder of the team.

A group of local residents from Shageluk are on the trail to assess and assist Darst and Matray.

A necropsy will be conducted by a board certified pathologist to make every attempt to determine the cause of death of the two dogs.