Four-time Iditarod king leads race again

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – By now, the leaders of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race are firmly established: four-time winner Jeff King fending off defending champ Lance Mackey and other mushing behemoths.

It’s a battle far removed from the back-of-the-packers in the 1,100-mile race to Nome on Alaska’s western coast.

But these lagging mushers aren’t always the sad sacks new fans might expect, unless, of course, they’re forced to drop out or a dog goes missing as is the case for one rookie’s team.

Many say they’re in it for the adventure of getting a dogsled view of Alaska’s wild splendor.

At least for now, few expect to beat the likes of King, who was first to reach the Yukon River village of Ruby early Friday, or Mackey, who arrived more than an hour later in his attempt for a fourth consecutive win. For arriving first, King was treated to a feast that included bison stew, grilled halibut in citrus sauce and blackberry jubilee. The 54-year-old veteran, who has said this year’s Iditarod is his last, also received $3,500.

King was the first to leave Ruby, nearly 500 miles from Nome, departing after taking a mandatory eight-hour break. Mackey, 39, also took his break then the Fairbanks, Alaska, musher began chasing after King on the 52-mile stretch to the next checkpoint at the village of Galena.

Other leaders are Iditarod veteran Hugh Neff, running third, followed by 2004 winner Mitch Seavey and Hans Gatt, fresh off his fourth win in the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race in February.

Nine of the 71 mushers who left the starting point in Willow on Sunday have scratched.

Among others at the back of the pack was rookie Newton Marshall, the Iditarod’s first participant from Jamaica.