One mushy ceremony

It was all laughs, smiles and barks during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Anchorage on Saturday morning. The fan-fest annually precedes the real start of the race, scheduled for today 50 miles north of Anchorage in Willow. “Of course, the dogs are the main attraction, but really the mushers, of course. They’re in charge of the whole thing. Without them, we wouldn’t be having a race,” said Susan Chan of Little Rock, Ark., who was bundled up in a parka as light snow fell in the city. For the ceremonial start, streets are closed in downtown Anchorage to allow fans to watch the mushers prepare their dog teams. There is a staggered start with a musher and an IditaRider – a person who won an auction for the ride. – Associated Press