Day 10 of the race: Dallas Seavey made History by being the youngest Musher, at age 25, to win the Iditarod. Dallas completed the 1000 mile race from Willow to Nome in 9 days, 4 hours and 29 minutes. Dallas has been a strong contender, having participated in 6 Iditarods since 2005, and finishing in the top 10 everytime since 2009. But tonight, Dallas can celebrate his first victory...

Aliy Zirkle who held on to the lead for several days, finished in 2nd place with 10 dogs on her team, just one hour behind Dallas Seavey. Aliy has competed every year since 2001, and made her best run in 2012.

Bruce Linton

Ramey Smyth ran an incredible race, passing dozens of teams and eventually crossing the finish line in Nome in 3rd place. Ramey also had a strong 2nd place finish in last year's Iditarod.

Oil painting renditions of your favorite Iditarod Mushers ... If you enjoy this type of artwork, visit this gallery for more Oil Painting Renditions.

Sonny Lindner Oil Painting

Day 9 of the race: Dallas Seavey was first to leave the Elim checkpoint in late afternoon. The leader is now less than 100 miles from the finish line, with 9 dogs on the team. The next Iditarod winner is expected to reach Nome on Tuesday March 13th. Aliy Zirkle is in 2nd place, 2 hours behind Dallas, while Ramey Smyth managed a 3rd position. Aaron Burmeister and Peter Kaiser round out the top 5. John Baker, the defending Champion, departed Koyuk early afternoon.

Dallas Seavey

Rookie Musher Brent Sass has done very well so far, climbing to the 14th position, while fellow Rookie Anjanette Steer is in 19th position.

Brent Sass' Dogs


Legendary Musher Dan Seavey, Bob Chlupach and Rookie Musher Jan Steves are on the tail end of the race near Galena.

Day 8 of the race: in a tactical move, Aaron Burmeister who had checked into Unalakleet in 3rd position decided to head to Shaktoolik after a short 4 hour rest, claiming the lead, with only 200 miles to the finish line. Dallas Seavey departed Unalakleet in 2nd position, only 6 minutes behind Aaron. Aliy Zirkle with 12 dogs on her team is now in 3rd place and is within half an hour from today's leader.

Peter Kaiser checked into Unalakleet in 8th position. Ken Anderson left Kaltag late last night and is in 13th place.

Jake Berkowitz

Colleen Robertia past Kaltag in 25th position, while Jake Berkowitz, from Big Lake, had to withdraw from the race at Unalakleet due to a hand injury. Jake was in 6th position when he made the decision to scratch.

On day 7 of the race, Musher Aliy Zirkle is widening her lead by approximately 3 hours over Mitch Seavey, currently in 2nd place. Aliy reached the Kaltag checkpoint with 14 dogs on her team. The finish line in Nome is now less than 300 miles away. With John Baker (in 3rd position) and Aaron Burmeister (in 4th) both within 1 hour of Mitch Seavey, the race for the 2012 Iditarod Championship is extremely tight. Dallas Seavey, currently in 5th position, left Nulato late morning.

Zoya DeNure is the 4th Musher to scratch from the race. Late last night, she gave up her bid to reach Nome at the Cripple checkpoint, due to concerns for her dogs.

Justin Savidis is in 41st position behind Ed Stielstra. They both left the Ruby checkpoint this morning. Nicolas Petit is currently in 33rd position and has checked into Galena.

After 500 miles since the start of the Iditarod, Aliy Zirkle pushes on: she is the first Musher to leave the Ruby checkpoint on Friday morning. Many of the favorite Mushers including Mitch Seavey, Dallas Seavey, John Baker, Jeff King and Deedee Jonrowe have made it to Ruby.

Brent Sass

Rookie Musher Brent Sass of Fairbanks has managed a respectable 16th position so far. Mike Santos is currently in 42nd place and has checked into Cripple.

Mike Santos

Rookie Musher Jaimee Kinzer of Willow is currently is 59th position, resting at the Ophir checkpoint.

AnJanette Steer has reached Cripple and is in 28th position.

Day 5 of the race: Aliy Zirkle, re-energized from her 24 hour mandatory layover, reclaimed the lead and was the first to leave the Cripple checkpoint, a mere 23 minutes ahead of runner up Mitch Seavey. Cripple marks the halfway point of the Iditarod, and with less than 500 miles to Nome, speculations on the next Champion are mounting.

Anna Berington

Kristy and Anna Berington have reached the Ophir checkpoint and are in 50th and 49th place respectively.

After the 24 hour mandatory break, the leader board gets reshuffled. Martin Buser and his son Rohn Buser left the checkpoint of Takotna Wednesday morning, where Aliy Zirkle is still resting.

Arriving at Ophir later in the day, Martin Buser is in 1st position, followed by Rohn and Jim Lanier. Trent Herbst, who recently moved to Anchorage, rounds out the top 4.

Canadian Musher Michelle Phillips checked into Takotna in 17th place, a few minutes behind Deedee Jonrowe.

Kristy Berington and twin sister Anna
are in 42nd and 41st place, taking their layover in Takotna.

Aliy Zirkle is holding on to the lead on the third day of the race by a very narrow margin. John Baker, the defending Iditarod Champion, is within sight of the current leader as they both leave the Nikolai checkpoint.

Aliy Zirkle

Paul Gebhardt

Paul Gebhardt's arrival into Nikolai earns him the 7th position, ahead of Dallas Seavey and Ray Redington Jr.

Musher Aliy Zirkle took the lead, leaving Rohn late evening with all 16 dogs. She is followed by Kelley Griffin in second place, and Jeff King in third. Ed Stielstra, on his way to Yentna, is followed by 3 other Mushers on his heels.

Ed Stielstra

Iditarod 40 is now well under way as the 66 teams left Willow on Sunday, March 4th. Ray Redington Jr. wearing bib number 2, breaks trail on the first day.

Anna Berington joins her twin sister Kristy in the 2012 Iditarod.

Late in the evening, Dan Seavey and Silvia Furtw�ngler ride into the sunset, followed by Karen Ramstead.

The 2012 Iditarod has officially started on Saturday morning when the 66 Mushers led their dog teams down 4th Avenue during the Ceremonial race start. This year, some heavy snow was part of the event, but the weather did not deter the estimated 5000 fans from attending and cheering their favorite teams. Several Iditarod icons are among the participants including Lance Mackey, DeeDee Jonrowe, Jeff King and Martin Buser.

Heavy Snow

Anna Berington

Iditarod 40 welcomes rookie mushers such as Travis Cooper of Big Lake and Anna Berington of Kasilof. The Berington name may not be unfamiliar to the avid Iditarod followers. Indeed, Kristy Berington, now a veteran musher, is Anna's twin sister.

The 2012 Iditarod also sees the return of Jim Lanier, famous for his all white dog team, as well as Karen Ramstead and her beautiful Siberian Huskies.

The Seavey family embodies a long tradition and passion for the Iditarod as 3 generations of Mushers participate in the 2012 race: Dan Seavey, Mitch Seavey and the young Dallas.

John Baker finished in first place in the 2011 Iditarod. The Kotzebue Musher arrived in Nome on March 15 at 9:46 am. He completed the 1100 mile race in 8 Days 18 Hours 46 Minutes.

John Baker now holds the record for the fastest Iditarod Finish, breaking Martin Buser's previous record standing since 2002 by 4 hours.

Ramey Smyth crossed the finished line an hour later.

Canadian Musher Hans Gatt took the 3rd place in the 2011 Iditarod. Hans has had a solid performance over the past 4 Iditarod races during which he finished in the top 10.

Dallas Seavey finished in 4th place.

Photos of the Iditarod at the Ceremonial Race start downtown Anchorage.

Aliy Zirkle

Newton Marshall

Lance Mackey, energized by his 2010 Iditarod win, is coveting a 5th consecutive victory.

Lance Mackey

Dallas Seavey

This section is dedicated to the real Heroes without which the Iditarod would not be possible: the dog teams. Here are pictures of true Iditarod dogs in action.

Sebastian Schnuelle

Trent Herbst

Sebastian Schnuelle (from Whitehorse, Canada) and Trent Herbst (from Idaho) with their recognizable features.

One of the reasons for the Ceremonial start is to allow fans and the general public to see the Mushers and their dog teams up close in action. The actual Iditarod race start occurs in Willow on March 6th.

Iditarod behind the scenes: 2 hours before the start of the race, Mushers attends to their dog teams or try to relax...

Zoya DeNure

Veteran Musher Mitch Seavy (far left) and Kirk Barnum (left) out of Willow and on their way to the Yentna check point.

Right: Musher Kelley Griffin closely followed by Dallas Seavey.

Far right: Martin Buser and his dog team.

Aliy Zirkle (bib number 18) seen outside of Willow.

Newton Marshall enjoying a beer (left).

March 8th, 2011: Jessica Hendricks (far left) scratched in Nikolai after assessing her dog team.

March 9th, 2011: Bob Storey (left), the 65 year old New Zealand Musher scratched at Rainy Pass due to the condition of his dog team.

March 8th, 2011: Melissa Owens (right) scratched at Rainy Pass due to a leg injury.

Zoya DeNure (far right) also scratched at Rainy Pass after one of her dogs showed sign of lethargy.

Paul Gebhardt (above) scratched in Nikolai with 14 dog on his team.

The Mushers of the Iditarod race over 1000 miles from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska.
The sled dog race commemorates an historic event of 1925, when 20 dog teams rescued the town of Nome stricken by a diphtheria epidemic, by relaying precious serum 674 miles in just 27 hours (see map). Due to severe winter conditions, the serum could not be flown by airplane.

Today, the race lasts approximately 9 to 12 days. As of 2011, John Baker holds the title for the fastest Iditarod Winner by finishing the race in 8 Days 18 Hours 46 Minutes.