There are 73 mushers registered to compete in the 2009 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, the fewest competitors in six years.
It’s the smallest lineup since 2003, when 65 mushers started the Iditarod. Last year, a record field of 96 mushers participated in the ceremonial start in Anchorage.
Iditarod spokesman Chas St. George says the smaller field could be a reflection of the poor economy.
Also a factor, participants in the world’s most famous sled dog race are paying a higher sign-up fee for a shot at a smaller guaranteed purse.
The entry fee for the 2009 race is $4,000, a nearly $1,000 increase from this year’s event and more than double the $1,860 fee from the previous year.
Next year’s race also has a smaller base purse — $660,000 compared to this year’s total take of $935,000. The winner of the 1,100-mile race will still get $69,000 and a new pickup.
Source: International Herald Tribune
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