DATE:            Monday, March 23, 2009 

TO:                 Race Officials

Race Veterinarians

Media

Volunteers

FROM:           Mark Nordman, Race Marshal

Earlier today (at approximately 12 noon AKDT) Iditarod Race officials sent a plane from Nome to Shaktoolik to pick up scratched musher Alan Peck’s dog team.

On the flight back to Nome the aircraft encountered significant turbulence.  By the time the pilot was able to land in Golovin, it was discovered that one of the dogs (Cirque, a 2 year-old female) was deceased.

The dogs were in good condition when loaded on the plane.  A necropsy will be conducted to make every attempt to determine the cause of death.