When fifty-eight mushers head for Nome on Saturday in the 23rd running of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Susan Butcher won't be among them.

View Comments

The four-time winner from Eureka is on the sidelines this year, expecting a baby. But Libby Riddles, the first woman to win the Iditarod, in 1985, has returned to the field and hopes to become one of only four mushers to repeat as winner of the 1,100-mile marathon from Anchorage to Nome.The fastest team will win $52,500, up $2,500 from last year, plus a new pickup truck.

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.