More than 500 volunteers and mushers gathered at the Iditarod Trail Committee Headquarters. They were served a barbeque luncheon by the Millennium Alaska Hotel (The Official Hotel of the Iditarod trail Sled Dog Race). Jeff King (Denali Alaska) and Robert Nelson (Kotzebue Alaska) won their $4,000 entry fees back in a final drawing that marked the end of the 2009 Volunteer Appreciation Picnic.

• 9:30 am - Musher sign-ups for IDITARDO XXXVIII will begin.
• 10:00 am - General membership meeting will be conducted and election results for the ITC’s board of directors will be announced.
• 12:00 noon - Volunteer Appreciation Picnic sponsored by the Millennium Alaskan Hotel begins.

Parking for the Volunteer Picnic is available at the Smith Ball Fields adjacent to the Iditarod Headquarters.

• The entry fee for 2010 remains at $4,000.

• Change the 2010  sign-up day procedure.  There are two pools. If a musher signs up on the 27thof June 2009 (in person or not) you will draw from the pool of all entrants who signed up on that date (relieves travel costs and time expense for mushers). Any entries received after 3:30 pm will be in the second pool.

• There will be a drawing at the ITC HQS on the 27^{th of} June for two free entry fees. Mushers must be present to be included in this drawing.

The ITC Board of Directors made the above decisions based on its recognition of the current economic climate.

The following application forms are required in order to sign up for the 2010 Race:

2010 Iditarod Race application

2010 Musher Release Form

2010 Nome Housing Form

Click here for the 2010 Iditarod Trail Committee Rules.

“Déjà Vu” is a 90 minute long form documentary produced by the Iditarod Insider and is the Iditarod Trail Committee’s third award in as many years.  “IDITAROD 2006: Mother Nature’s Turn to Dance” and “Iditarod 2007: As Tough as They Come” were also awarded the coveted Emmys.

The 46th Annual Northwest Regional Emmy Awards Nomination List represents the selections from television submissions in the northwest region of the United States (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, and Montana).

The sponsorship family of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is an integral part of the success of “The Last Great Race on Earth.”  Many of the sponsors (and their employees) not only support the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race with monetary and in kind resources but they are also part of the more than 1800 volunteers who make the Iditarod a reality!

Lance will be on hand between 5 and 8 pm to greet Iditarod fans and sign autographs from 5 pm to 8pm Tuesday night.

The Iditarod Gift Shop is located on the first floor of the 5^th Avenue Mall in Downtown Anchorage.  Bring along your favorite Iditarod memorabilia and have it autographed by the 2007, 2008, and 2009 Iditarod Sled Dog Race Champion… Lance Mackey.

Dear Valued Iditarod Trail Committee Members,

The Iditarod Trail Committee (ITC) Board of Directors has three seats up for election for 2010 .  The seats are;

Seat A: Representing Nome Alaska, currently filled by John Handeland

Seat B: Representing Anchorage/Mat-Su, currently filled by Mark Moderow

Seat C: Representing the “At Large” seat, currently filled by Rick Swenson

All three incumbent board members have committed to running for re-election.

Any ITC member can run for a board seat.  The ITC Board of Directors encourages interested members to please click here to contact the Nomination Committee Chair, Jim Palin,  before April 15, 2009.

Interested members are also asked to provide the Nomination Committee with a short bio of 300 words or less, along with a recent photo (jpg) for distribution to the voting membership no later than April 25, 2009. Please click here to submit.

The results of the membership election will be announced on June 27, 2009 at the annual membership meeting held at Iditarod Trail Committee Headquarters (mile 2.2 Knik-Goosebay Road),  in Wasilla Alaska.

For more information about the Iditarod Trail Committee, please click here to review the ITC Bylaws.

The 2009 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race officially ended at 4:06 this morning (ADST) when Marquette Michigan rookie musher Timothy Hunt (Bib #64) made his way under the Burled Arch of Front Street in Nome Alaska.  Race fans greeted Hunt and celebrated his 1049 mile journey to Nome. The 43 year old musher made the trek from Willow to Nome in 15 days, 14 hours, 6 minutes and 22 seconds.

Hunt was also awarded the coveted Wells Fargo Red Lantern.  After the ceremony under the Burled Arch concluded, the 2009 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race ended with the traditional gesture of blowing out the Widow’s Lamp, signifying that all mushers and their teams were safely off the Iditarod Trail.

Later today (TBD) the Red Lantern Awards Banquet will be held in Nome at the Mini Convention Center.  The public is invited to attend.

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.

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Thanks to all ticket purchasers for taking part in “The Last Great Race on Earth”!

            Summer Raffle Tickets go on Sale May 1^st

PenAir Spirit of Alaska Award- The recipient of the 2009 PenAir Spirit of Alaska award is Aaron Burmeister from Nenana Alaska.  The award is a beautiful framed mask depicting the spirit of the “team”.  Burmeister also received $500 credit for travel or freight.

GCI Dorothy G. Page Halfway Award- Presented to Lance Mackey from Fairbanks Alaska who was the first musher to arrive in Iditarod Alaska.  Lance received $2,500 in gold nuggets and a beautiful trophy.

Millennium Alaskan Hotel Anchorage First To the Yukon Award- Presented to Lance Mackey from Fairbanks Alaska; the first Musher to arrive in Anvik Alaska on the banks of the Yukon.  While in Anvik, Mackey received a nine course meal.  Tonight Mackey received an additional $3,500 in one dollar bills as the “after dinner mint” for his efforts.

Wells Fargo Bank Alaska Gold Coast Award- Presented to Lance Mackey from Fairbanks Alaska.  Mackey was the first musher to arrive in the Gold Coast community of Unalakleet. He was awarded a beautiful trophy and $2,500 in gold nuggets.

Nome Kennel Club Fastest Time from Safety to Nome Award- Presented by the Nome Kennel Club. The recipient for the fastest time between Safety and Nome is Ramey Smyth from Willow Alaska.  He was able to complete the trek from Safety to Nome in 2 hours and 27 minutes. He received $500 for his efforts.

 Horizon Lines Iditarod Most Improved Musher Award- Was awarded to Dallas Seavey from Seward Alaska. Seavey received $2,000 and an engraved trophy.  Dallas went from 41^st position in 2007 to sixth in 2009.

Rookie of the Year- The Rookie of the Year Award has been sponsored by Jerry and Clara Austin of St. Michael Alaska since 1980.  The 2009 Rookie of the Year was Chad Lindner from Brookline Massachusetts. He received $1,500 and a trophy for his efforts.

ExxonMobil 37^th Iditarod Award- Exxonmobil presented an Iditarod Gold Coin (valued at $2,500) to Harry Alexi, from Bethel Alaska for being the 37^th musher to arrive in Nome

Fred Meyer Sportsmanship Award- This award includes $500 in Fred Meyer Gift Cards and was awarded to Aaron Burmeister of Nenana Alaska for helping a musher find his team.

Chevron Most Inspirational Musher Award- Presented to Iditarod musher Trent Herbst from Ketchum Idaho.  Trent received the award for the work he has done in the classroom teaching his students all about “The Last Great Race on Earth.” The honor included a trophy and $1,000 worth of Chevron gas.

Golden Clipboard Award- The 2008 Golden Clipboard is awarded to the checkpoint along the Iditarod Trail that exemplifies community teamwork The 2009 recipient is the village of Nikolai Alaska.

Golden Stethoscope Award- Awarded to the veterinarian deemed most helpful on the trail by the members of the Iditarod Official Finishers Club was awarded to Dr. Denny Albert from Denali Alaska.

Alaska Airlines Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian Award- is based on specific criteria to determine who has best demonstrated outstanding dog care through out the Race while remaining competitive.  Alaska Airlines presented the award to Iditarod 2009 Champion Lance Mackey.  Mackey received a lead crystal cup on an illuminated wooden base and two free round trip tickets to anywhere on the Alaska Airlines system.

The City of Nome Lolly Medley Golden Harness Award Winner- Originally presented by the late Lolly Medley, Wasilla harness maker and one of two women to run the second Iditarod in 1974.  The award honors an outstanding lead dog, chosen by the mushers. This year’s recipient was Kuling a 9 year old member of Jessie Royer’s team from Fairbanks Alaska. Kuling has completed seven Iditarods and led her team to an 8th place finish in 2009. She was Jessie’s lead dog for all seven of her Iditarods.

Northern Air Cargo Herbie Nayokpuk Memorial Award- Presented to the musher chosen by staff and officials as the person who most closely mimics “Herbie” in his/her attitude on the trail. This year’s recipient was Sonny Lindner from Fairbanks Alaska.  He received a free freight allotment on Northern Air Cargo, $1,049 cash and a trophy.

Wells Fargo Winner’s Purse Award- Was awarded to the 2009 Iditarod Champion, Lance Mackey.  This year’s award was $69,000.

Anchorage Chrysler Dodge Official Truck Award- Was awarded to the 2009 Iditarod Champion, Lance Mackey.  Mackey received a 2008 Dodge Ram Laramie “HEMI” 4/x/4 quad cab pick up.

During the Banquet each musher had the opportunity to try starting a brand new 4 wheel Bombardier compliments of Northern Air Cargo.  The winning key belonged to Robert Nelson from Kotzebue Alaska.

DATE:            Saturday, March 21, 2009

TO:                 Race Officials

Race Veterinarians

Media

Volunteers

FROM:           Mark Nordman, Race Marshal

The gross necropsy performed on Maynard a five year old male in the team of Warren Palfrey (Yellowknife NWT, Canada) has been completed.  Pulmonary edema was present, which likely developed as the result of a cardiac abnormality.

Further tests will be conducted to complete the necropsy study.

DATE:            Saturday, March 21, 2009

TO:                 Race Officials

Race Veterinarians

Media

Volunteers

FROM:           Mark Nordman, Race Marshal

Results from the Gross Necropsy of Omen, an eight year old male from Rick Larson’s (Bib #5) team, have been completed.  Pulmonary edema was present, which likely developed as the result of a cardiac abnormality.

To complete the necropsy study, further tests will be conducted.

IDITAROD XXXVII MUSHER Aaron Peck, (Bib # 02) scratched at 9:00 a.m. Alaska Time (March 21, 2009) in Elim Checkpoint.  The 29 year old musher from Grande Prairie, AB. Canada arrived in Elim yesterday afternoon at 4:22 pm. He decided this morning, after resting his team over night that he would scratch in the best interest of his team.  He had six dogs on his team when he made the decision.

TO:                 Race Officials

Race Veterinarians

Media

Volunteers

FROM:           Mark Nordman, Race Marshal

An eight year old male named Omen in the team of Rick Larson (Bib #5) died on the Iditarod Trail between Elim and White Mountain earlier today.

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

TO:                 Race Officials

Race Veterinarians

Media

Volunteers

FROM:           Mark Nordman, Race Marshal

A five year old male named Maynard in the team of Warren Palfrey (Yellowknife NWT, Canada) died on the trail between Safety and Nome late last evening.  The incident occurred about an hour before Palfrey’s arrival.

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