1. Start Date: The first Saturday in March each year

2. First Race: Left Anchorage March 3, 1973. Won by Dick Wilmarth in just over 20 days.

3. Distance: 1,049 is a symbolic figure. (A thousand mile race in the 49th State.) The actual milage is closer to 1,200 miles, depending upon the route taken. The Iditarod is the longest dog sled race in the world.

4. Age Range of Mushers: 18 to 81 years

5. First Woman to Win the Race: Libby Riddles in 1985

6. Shortest Completed Time: 
   9 days, 2 hours, 42 minutes and 19 seconds in 1995 by Doug Swingley

7. Entry Fee: $1,750

8. Prize Money: $400,000 - ($50,000 to first place)

9. Closest Finish: 1978 -- after two weeks on the trail, Dick Mackey beat Rick Swenson by only one second

10. Checkpoints: There are over 20 checkpoints along the trail where mushers must sign in and where each musher's 2,500 pounds of dog food has been distributed. A veterinarian is stationed at each checkpoint to provide care to the dogs.

11. Possible Temperature Extremes During Race: +45 ° F to -60 ° F

UAA Seawolves TV Schedule

MARCH	CEREMONIAL START IN ANCHORAGE

 

MARCH	RESTART IN WILLOW