WILLOW, Alaska - Rookies and veterans alike got serious Sunday with the restart in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, where some mushers chase the prize money and others the dream of finishing the longest sled dog race in the world.
Iditarod veteran Vern Halter of Willow, wearing a wide smile, was the first to leave the restart.
The race's ceremonial start was Saturday in Anchorage. The restart was moved about 25 miles north this year because of an icy trail closer to Anchorage.
Halter, 53, a lawyer and full-time kennel owner, is in his 16th Iditarod. His best finish was third in 1999.
"I like that position," Halter said of going out ahead of the other teams in the record field of 87. "If you're going to be in the top 10, you might as well be first."
Charlie Boulding, 61, of Manly, who normally finishes in the top 10 but scratched last year, was 64th out of the restart gate. His best finish was third in 1998.
Asked if he thought he could win, Boulding grew angry. "If we don't, we're wasting our time. End of interview," he said before turning and walking off.
This year's field has five former champions chasing the first prize of $69,000 and a new Dodge pickup truck worth $41,410. Four-time winner Doug Swingley is back after taking last year off. He and Martin Buser look to join Rick Swenson as the Iditarod's only five-time winner. Teams from Alaska, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming, are competing, as are mushers from Canada, Italy, Germany and Norway.
