document_title: Happy New Year (2014 film)

question_text: box office collection of happy new year movie

text: Happy New Year (2014 film)

text: Plot[edit]

text: Charlie, is a street fighter who has been yearning for revenge from Charan Grover for 8 years. Grover labeled Charlie's father as a thief because Charan had conned him into stealing his own Diamonds worth $15 million. Charlie finds out that diamonds worth $300 crore will reach the Atlantis Hotel on Christmas Eve. He wants to steal the same diamonds and frame Grover. To accomplish this, he must assemble a dynamic team. His team consists of Jag, Tammy, Rohan Singh and a lookalike of Vicky Grover who only can open the vault, named Nandu Bhide.

text: Tammy is the only one to open the vault. The team finds out that the room 9C, connected to the vault through duct system, is booked for a participant in the World Dance Championship. The group refuses, but Charlie re-motivates the group, convincing them to become a dance team. The film moves to a flashback— Manohar, Chalie's father met Charan Grover who gave him a contract to build an impenetrable vault. After the vault was completed, Charan drugged Manohar and conned him into stealing the diamonds by using his fingerprints. The film returns back where desperate to win the competition, they employ many dance teachers, but to no avail. In desperation, Nandu introduces Charlie to Mohini, who is a Marathi bar dancer. Mohini eventually helps them learn to dance, unaware of their intentions. Charlie and Mohini grow very close.

text: They manage to qualify in the first round by bribing the judges and eventually win the competition to represent Team India in the WDC by gaining votes through hacking. Many people despise them for their lack of dancing skill, but Charlie and his team are all only concerned with the heist except Mohini. In Dubai, Team Korea are especially hostile towards Team India, including Grover. At the semi final, Charlie saves a Korean member, instantly gaining respect and admiration from the audience. India advances to finals after judges are moved by Charlie's action. Team India becomes loved by everyone. After going over the plan, everything is ready. The team eventually find out that the diamonds will arrive on New Year's Eve instead of Christmas which impedes the heist.

text: Mohini ends up hearing about heist, angrily confronting Charlie and his false motivations of the competition. Charlie reveals a shocking secret that Manohar is actually dead. After Manohar was arrested, he appealed for a trial, but Grover bribed Manohar's lawyers. The next day, Manohar committed suicide by slitting his wrists. Charlie kept this a secret to avoid demoralisation. However, the team makes their determination to avenge Manohar even stronger. Mohini joins the team and helps them for the heist.

text: The night of the final round, the heist is set in motion. Mohini lures Vicky into an elevator, where his thumbprint is copied on Nandu who opens the chamber. They open the crack but Charlie and Tammy find another glass safe which houses the diamonds. Tammy realizes that Manohar built this safe. Charlie opens the safe later after deep thinking. After stealing the diamonds, the team boards a boat, but Mohini refuses to come as she feels dedicated to protecting India's honor with the competition. Rohan joins her as well, leading to a fight amongst the remaining members.

text: When Team India is found missing, Grover claims that they are the thieves. As he watches Mohini perform, other members also join her. Soon after, Charlie makes appearance and eventually helps the team win the competition. With all suspicions removed from Team India, Charan and Vicky Grover are arrested. Charlie reveals himself to Charan and completes the revenge. Team India reach the airport and manage to bypass security. Charlie camouflages the diamonds in his soft-drink, but the security guard disposes it. Later, during the flight Charlie reveals that he switched the fake diamonds on the trophy with the real ones. The team reaches India.

text: During a post-credits scene, Mohini opens her own "Dence School" and everyone laughs at Nandu who is thrown out of bank for showing a winners' cheque.

text: Cast[edit]

text:
Shah Rukh Khan as Chandramohan Manohar Sharma aka Charlie
Abhishek Bachchan as Nandu Bhide/Vicky Grover
Deepika Padukone as Mohini Joshi
Sonu Sood as Captain Jagmohan Prakash aka Jag
Boman Irani as Temhton Irani aka Tammy
Vivaan Shah as Rohan Singh, Jag's Nephew
Jackie Shroff as Charan Grover
Mohan Kapur as Assistant of Charan Grover
Varun Pruthi as Charan Grover's Assistant
Kavi Shastri as Mr. Gupta
Anupam Kher as Manohar Sharma, Father of Charlie[8]
Daisy Irani as Tammy's mother (cameo)
Sarah-Jane Dias as Laila (cameo)[9]
Dino Morea as host of World Dance Championship (cameo)[10]
Kiku Sharda as Saroj Khan/(a dance choreographer)
Prabhu Deva as dance instructor (cameo)[11]
Malaika Arora Khan as the heroine of a film (cameo)[12]
Anurag Kashyap as himself/Judge of World Dance Championship Auditions (cameo)[13]
Vishal Dadlani as himself/Judge of World Dance Championship Auditions (cameo)[13]
Sajid Khan as director of a film (special appearance)[14]
Jason Tham as Team Korea Leader

text: Production[edit]

text: Development[edit]

text: Plans for the film began way back in 2005 with an ensemble cast of Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone (in her film debut), Amitabh Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra, Uday Chopra, Juhi Chawla, Sanjay Dutt, Raveena Tandon, Zayed Khan and Manisha Koirala.[15] The film was shelved for unknown reasons and instead, Farah Khan made Om Shanti Om (2007) which featured Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone. After her 2010 film Tees Maar Khan, Farah began to consider the possibilities of the film and screenwriting was completed by October 2012.

text: When the film was revived, the filmmakers wanted an established actress in the lead role opposite Khan. In December 2012, media reported that the makers had approached Priyanka Chopra for the part, who was their first choice for the film after the script was revamped.[16] However, Chopra turned down the film due to dates issue; the schedule was clashing with another film she had signed.[17] Later several actresses were considered for the part such as Sonakshi Sinha, Asin, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Parineeti Chopra and Katrina Kaif,[18] however Deepika Padukone was finalized, making it her third film with Shah Rukh Khan after Om Shanti Om and Chennai Express (2013).[19] Khan was reported to be playing the role of a con artist in the film which had Deepika in the role of a Marathi dancer. At a point, John Abraham was to play one of the supporting roles but Sonu Sood replaced him.[20] Boman Irani was confirmed by the director during an interview. In August 2013, Jackie Shroff was finalised to play the film's antagonist.[21] The director's brother Sajid Khan would be making a guest appearance while actress Malaika Arora Khan was also signed to appear in a cameo role.[22] Vivaan Shah was reported to play the role of a computer hacker. Actor-director Prabhu Deva performed a dance in a cameo appearance for the film.[23]

text: Filming[edit]

text: Farah made the official announcement of the film on Twitter.[24] The first schedule of filming started in Dubai.[25] Arabian Business reported that a major portion of the film will be shot in the prestigious Atlantis, The Palm.[26] On 23 January 2014, Shah Rukh Khan was injured while shooting for the film at JW Marriott Hotel, Mumbai. Though reported as minor at first, he suffered a fractured shoulder[27] and a torn left knee patella, being advised rest for a while.[28] Mehboob Studios was used as one of the major locations while certain portions were also filmed near the Wilson College. The final schedule was completed in August 2014.

text: Marketing[edit]

text: To promote the film, digitally personalized posters written in cast members' handwriting were made available to social media users.[29]

text: The film's cast and crew, along with rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh and actress Madhuri Dixit travelled on a promotional tour titled "SLAM!". Starting from 19 September in Houston, it took place in New Jersey, Washington, Toronto, Chicago, Vancouver and San Jose. "SLAM!" also continued to United Kingdom on 5 October.[30]

text: On 13 October 2014, an official game based on the movie, titled Happy New Year-The Game was released for Android and iOS. It was made in collaboration with the production company and Gameshastra India, an Indian game art outsourcing studio.[31][32]

text: Distribution rights[edit]

text: The worldwide distribution rights were sold to Yash Raj Films for ₹1.25 billion (US$19 million), the satellite rights were sold to Zee Network for ₹650 million (US$10 million) and the music rights to T-Series for ₹120 million (US$1.8 million), earning a total pre-release revenue of ₹2.02 billion (US$31 million).[33][34]

text: Soundtrack[edit]

text:
Happy New Year

Soundtrack album by Vishal-Shekhar

Released
15 September 2014 (2014-09-15)

Genre
Film soundtrack

Length
46:02

Label
T-Series

Vishal-Shekhar chronology

Bang Bang!
(2014)Bang Bang!2014
Happy New Year
(2014)

text: The music of Happy New Year is composed by the duo of Vishal-Shekhar while the lyrics are penned by Irshad Kamil. The full soundtrack was launched on 15 September 2014. Prior to that, promotional music videos were released for "Indiawaale" and "Manwa Laage" on 2 and 9 September respectively. After the album was launched, promotional videos of the songs "Lovely", "Nonsense Ki Night" and "Satakli" were also released. A track, India Waale, is in Just Dance Now, DLC in Just Dance 2015 and is part of the Just Dance Unlimited service for Just Dance 2016, Just Dance 2017 & Just Dance 2018

text:
Track listing

No.
Title
Singer(s)
Length

1.
"India Waale"
Vishal Dadlani, K.K., Shankar Mahadevan, Neeti Mohan
3:58

2.
"Manwa Laage"
Arijit Singh, Shreya Ghoshal
4:31

3.
"Satakli"
Sukhwinder Singh
3:43

4.
"Lovely"
Kanika Kapoor, Fateh Doe, Ravindra Upadhyay, Miraya Varma
3:41

5.
"World Dance Medley"
Neeti Mohan, Vishal Dadlani, Sukhwinder Singh, K.K., Shankar Mahadevan, Shah Rukh Khan
5:23

6.
"Nonsense Ki Night"
Mika Singh
3:03

7.
"Dance Like A Chammiya"
Sunidhi Chauhan, Vishal Dadlani
3:32

8.
"Sharabi"
Manj Musik, Nindy Kaur, Vishal Dadlani, Shekhar Ravjiani
4:21

9.
"Indiawaale (Electronic)"
Neeti Mohan, Vishal Dadlani, K.K., Shankar Mahadevan
4:26

10.
"The Heist (Instrumental)"
Instrumental
1:57

11.
"Kamlee"
Kanika Kapoor, Ravindra Upadhyay, Miraya Varma, Fateh Doe, Dr Zeus
3:43

Total length:
46:02

text: Reception[edit]

text: The soundtrack gained mostly positive reviews from music critics.

text: Kasmin Fernandes at The Times of India felt, "As a heist film centred round a dance competition, Happy New Year provides plenty of fodder for composers Vishal and Shekhar and lyricist Irshad Kamil to showcase their way with sounds. And they've delivered, with seven original tracks, one electronic version, a variation, a medley and an instrumental number."[35] Rohit Vats for Hindustan Times gave the album 3 out of 5 stars stated, "Farah Khan looks more concerned about the feel of her film than the quality of the songs, and it prompts her to go with trendy tunes. Overall, the album is average and is only youth oriented. Acquiring longevity will be difficult for this album."[36] For India.com, Prathamesh Jadhav wrote, "It's a mixed bag!"[37] On the contrary critic Surabhi Redkar for Koimoi felt, "Happy New Year album is not as extravagant as the film looks. With an expectation of a Bollywood musical soundtrack, it comes down to a regular album of Vishal-Shekhar. Even though the album will be a hit with tracks such as Manwa Laage and Kamlee, it will not enjoy much longevity."[38]

text: Box office[edit]

text: Worldwide, the film grossed ₹397 billion (US$95 million),[a] making it one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time.

text: India[edit]

text: Happy New Year set a record by collecting ₹44.97

text: crore, making it the first Bollywood film to reach the figure in a single day.[41] The film witnessed a drop on Saturday when it earned ₹285 million nett[42] and collections on Sunday were in the same range, taking the opening weekend to a record ₹970 million nett.[43] The film grossed around ₹1.75 billion in its first weekend worldwide,[44] the second highest opening for a Hindi film after Dhoom 3.[45]

text: The film grossed around ₹122.5 million nett on its first Monday to take its total to ₹1.09 billion in four days.[46] It earned ₹110 million nett on its first Tuesday as the film had a decent hold from Monday in a few circuits, taking its total to a huge ₹1.20 billion nett in five days.[47] Happy New Year grossed a huge ₹1.34 billion nett in its first week.[48][49] The film had a strong weekend and its all India collections were good on Monday and Tuesday but it fell on Wednesday.[50] The huge first week gave the film a massive distributor share of ₹770 million approx.[51] The film grossed ₹2.45 billion worldwide in its first week which was the fourth highest total ever behind Dhoom 3, Kick and Chennai Express.[52] The Tamil and Telugu versions of the film grossed ₹11 million nett and ₹26 million nett respectively in first week.[53]

text: Happy New Year had good collections on second Friday of around ₹45 million nett.[54] The film showed huge growth on its second Saturday and Sunday to gross around ₹67.5 million nett and ₹92.5 million nett respectively.[55][56] Happy New Year grossed around ₹202.5 million in second weekend to take its ten-day total to ₹1.54 billion nett.[57] The film grossed around ₹30 million nett on second Monday,[58] ₹40 million nett on second Tuesday[59] and ₹27.5 million nett on second Wednesday.[60] Happy New Year grossed around ₹353.8 million nett in its second week to take its total to ₹1.685 billion nett.[61] It grossed around ₹45 million nett over its third weekend to take its total to ₹1.73 billion nett.[62][63] Happy New Year grossed around ₹77.5 million nett in week three taking its total to a little over ₹1.76 billion nett.[64]

text: Happy New Year grossed ₹15.6 million nett in week four and ₹3.4 million nett in week five taking its final total to ₹1.83 billion nett.[65][66][67] Box Office India declared Happy New Year a "Super Hit".[68] Its final domestic gross was ₹295 crore[39] (US$48 million).

text: Overseas[edit]

text: Happy New Year recorded the second highest overseas opening weekend of all time with figures of US$8.1 million (₹498 million).[69] The film had an all-time record opening in the Gulf, Nepal, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Germany.[citation needed][70] In the opening weekend, the film grossed US$2.9 million (₹178 million) in the Gulf, $2 million (₹123 million) in US/Canada, £570,000 (₹56 million) in United Kingdom, A$380,000 (₹20.5 million) in Australia, and PKR 62 million (US$600,000, INR 37 million) in Pakistan.[71] Happy New Year took the all-time best ever opening for a Hindi film in Germany as it grossed $94,000 on its first day of release. Dhoom 3 had grossed $86,000 over the weekend and My Name Is Khan was $98,000 over the weekend.[72]

text: At the end of its theatrical run overseas, the film earned US$16.71 million (₹102 crore) in overseas markets.[40] It is one of the highest-grossing Indian films ever in overseas markets.

text: Critical reception[edit]

text: The film received mixed reviews from critics in India and overseas.[73] It holds a 57% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 14 reviews.[74] While the performances of the lead cast, particularly Bachchan and the humor content received praise, the lack of character development and the 'unoriginal' plot received criticism.

text: Domestic[edit]

text: Saurabh Gupta of Indian Express rated the film 2 out of 5 stars calling it a "Mera Bharat Mahan sentiments" type movie, and a cross between an Ocean's 11/12 and "Flashdance".[75] Rediff rated the film 2 out of 5 stars, and said "the film plays out like a spoof from the get go, a gigantic lark where nothing is taken seriously".[76] NDTV also rated the film 2 out of 5 stars and said that irrespective of earnings at the box office, it "has nothing new to offer".[77] Mihir Fadnavis of First Post said that, "the movie looks and feels like a home video project that was intended for appreciation by precisely two people in the entire universe – Farah and Shah Rukh Khan" and appears to be "Ocean's 11 rewritten by baboons".[78] Rohit Vats of Hindustan Times gave the film 2.5 out of 5 stars taking on originality, said that "Originality? What's that, ask Farah Khan in Happy New Year".[79]

text: International[edit]

text: Shilpa Jamkhandikar of Reuters said that the film has liberally borrowed from Hollywood heist films, in particular from Steven Soderbergh's Ocean’s Eleven. "The first half is lighter and genuinely funny at times, but as the second half wears on, the proceedings become monotonous".[80] Lisa Tsering of The Hollywood Reporter reviewed film as, "an ambitious musical, a love story and an Ocean's 11-style crime caper".[81] Sami Qahar of the Dawn gave the film 2.5 out 5 stars and said the film is "Ocean’s Eleven plus Italian Job plus Step Up all in one…on cheap shape-deteriorating steroids."[82]

text: Awards and nominations[edit]

text:
Award
Category
Recipients and nominees
Result
Ref.

7th Mirchi Music Awards
Song of The Year
"Manwa Laage"
Nominated
[83][84]

Male Vocalist of The Year
Arijit Singh - "Manwa Laage"

Female Vocalist of The Year
Shreya Ghoshal - "Manwa Laage"

Music Composer of The Year
Vishal-Shekhar - "Manwa Laage"

Lyricist of The Year
Irshad Kamil - "Manwa Laage"
Won

Best Song Producer (Programming & Arranging)
Jackie V - "Manwa Laage"
Nominated

Best Song Engineer (Recording & Mixing)
Satchith Harve & Praveen Muralidhar - "Manwa Laage"
Won

text: Sequel[edit]

text: Actors Shah Rukh Khan and Abhishek Bachchan hinted there might be a possible sequel of this film.[85][86]

text: Controversy[edit]

text: Bollywood film choreographer Saroj Khan reportedly got upset after being spoofed in the movie.[87] Farah Khan denied having spoofed Saroj Khan. Farah had earlier allegedly spoofed Manoj Kumar in her 2007 film Om Shanti Om.[88][89]

text: Jaya Bachchan described Happy New Year as a "nonsensical film" and she said, "I only watched it because Abhishek is in it. I told him that he is a great actor if he can act stupid in front of the camera like that." [90][91][92]

text: Notes[edit]

text:
^ Jump up to: a b Happy New Year worldwide gross: ₹397 crore (US$65 million)

Domestic: ₹295 crore[39] (US$48 million)
Overseas: US$16.71 million (₹102 crore)[40]


document_title: Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

question_text: what is the all time speed record for completing the iditarod

question_tokens: what is the all time speed record for completing the iditarod

root

text: Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

text: Name[edit]

text: The race's namesake is the Iditarod Trail, which was designated as one of the first four US National Historic Trails in 1978. The trail in turn is named for the town of Iditarod, which was an Athabaskan village before becoming the center of the Inland Empire's[7] Iditarod Mining District in 1910, and then becoming a ghost town at the end of the local gold rush.[8] The name Iditarod may be derived from the Athabaskan haiditarod, meaning "far distant place".[9]

tag: p

text: History[edit]

text: This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

tag: table

text: Portions of the Iditarod Trail were used by the Native Alaskan Eskimo Inupiaq and Athabaskan peoples hundreds of years before the arrival of Russian fur traders in the 1800s, but the trail reached its peak between the late 1880s and the mid-1920s as miners arrived to dig coal and later gold, especially after the Alaska gold rushes at Nome in 1898,[10] and at the "Inland Empire" along the Kuskokwim Mountains between Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers, in 1908. The primary communication and transportation link to the rest of the world during the summer was the steamship; but between October and June the northern ports like Nome became icebound, and dog sleds delivered mail, firewood, mining equipment, gold ore, food, furs, and other needed supplies between the trading posts and settlements across the Interior and along the western coast. Roadhouses where travelers could spend the night sprang up every 14 to 30 miles (23 to 48 km) until the end of the 1920s, when the mail carriers were replaced by bush pilots flying small aircraft and the roadhouses vanished. Dog sledding persisted in the rural parts of Alaska, but was almost driven into extinction by the spread of snowmobiles in the 1960s.

text: During its heyday, mushing was also a popular sport during the winter, when mining towns shut down. The first major competition was the tremendously popular 1908 All-Alaska Sweepstakes (AAS), which was started by Allan "Scotty" Alexander Allan, and ran 408 miles (657 km) from Nome to Candle and back.[11] The event introduced the first Siberian huskies to Alaska in 1910, where they quickly became the favored racing dog, replacing the Alaskan malamute and mongrels bred from imported huskies and other large breeds, like setters and pointers. In 1914, the Norwegian immigrant Leonhard Seppala first appeared, and went on to win the race in 1915, 1916, and 1917, before the race was discontinued in 1918 during World War I

text: The most famous event in the history of Alaskan mushing is the 1925 serum run to Nome, also known as the "Great Race of Mercy." A large diphtheria epidemic threatened Nome, and Nome's supply of antitoxin had expired and doctor Curtis Welch refused to use it, and then proceeded to send out telegrams looking for a fresh supply of antitoxin. The nearest antitoxin was found to be in Anchorage, nearly one thousand miles away. The only way to get the antitoxin to Nome was by sled dog, due to unusable planes and ships. Governor Scott Bone approved a safe route and the 20-pound (9.1 kg) cylinder of serum was sent by train 298 miles (480 km) from the southern port of Seward to Nenana, where it was passed just before midnight on January 27 to the first of twenty mushers and more than 100 dogs who relayed the package 674 miles (1,085 km) from Nenana to Nome. The dogs ran in relays, with no dog running over 100 miles (160 km).

text: The Norwegian Gunnar Kaasen and his lead dog Balto arrived on Front Street in Nome on February 2 at 5:30 a.m., just five and a half days later. The two became media celebrities, and a statue of Balto was erected in Central Park in New York City in 1925, where it has become one of the most popular tourist attractions. However, most mushers consider Leonhard Seppala and his lead dog Togo to be the true heroes of the run. Together they covered the most hazardous stretch of the route, and carried the serum 91 miles, the single farthest of any team.[12]

text: In 1964 the Wasilla-Knik Centennial Committee was created to honor the 100th anniversary of Alaska's induction into the United States of America from Russia.[13] Dorothy G. Page, the chairmen of the committee, had the original idea to race a portion of the Iditarod Trail. Joe Redington Sr. (named the "Father of the Iditarod" by one of the local newspapers), and his wife Vi were Page's first true support and, with volunteer support they cleared up a portion of the trail. The first race, known as the Iditarod Trail Seppala Memorial Race in honor of Leonhard Seppala, was held in 1967. The purse of US$25,000 attracted a field of 58 racers, and the winner was Isaac Okleasik. The next race, in 1968, was canceled for lack of snow, and 1969's small $1,000 purse only drew in 12 mushers.[14]

text: Redington along with two school teachers, Gleo Huyck and Tom Johnson, was the impetus behind extending the race more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) along the historic route to Nome. The three co-founders of the race started in October 1972 to plan the now famous race. A major fundraising campaign which raised a purse of $51,000 was also started at the same time. This race was the first true Iditarod Race and was held in 1973, and attracted a field of 34 mushers, 22 of whom completed the race. Dorothy Page had nothing to do with the 1973 race, stating that she "washes her hands of the event". The event was a success; even though the purse dropped in the 1974 race, the popularity caused the field of mushers to rise to 44, and corporate sponsorship in 1975 put the race on secure financial footing. Despite the loss of sponsors during a dog abuse scandal in 1976, the Iditarod caused a resurgence of recreational mushing in the 1970s, and has continued to grow until it is now the largest sporting event in the state. The race was originally patterned after the All Alaska Sweepstakes races held early in the 20th century.

text: The main route of the Iditarod trail extends 938 miles (1,510 km) from Seward in the south to Nome in the northwest, and was first surveyed by Walter Goodwin in 1908, and then cleared and marked by the Alaska Road Commission in 1911 and 1912. The entire network of branching paths covers a total of 2,450 miles (3,940 km). Except for the start in Anchorage, the modern race follows parts of the historic trail.

text: Route[edit]

text: This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

text: The trail is composed of two routes: a northern route, which is run on even-numbered years, and a southern route, which is run on odd-numbered years. Both follow the same trail for 352 miles (566 km), from Anchorage to Ophir, where they diverge and then rejoin at Kaltag, 346 miles (557 km) from Nome. The race used the northern route until 1977, when the southern route was added to distribute the impact of the event on the small villages in the area, none of which have more than a few hundred inhabitants. Passing through the historic town of Iditarod was a secondary benefit.

text: Aside from the addition of the southern route, the route has remained relatively constant. The largest changes were the addition of the restart location in 1995 and the shift from Ptarmigan to Rainy Pass in 1996. Checkpoints along the route are also occasionally added or dropped, and the ceremonial start of the route and the restart point are commonly adjusted depending on weather.

text: As a result, the exact measured distance of the race varies from year to year, but officially the northern route is 975 miles (1,569 km) long, and the southern route is 998 miles (1,606 km) long. The length of the race is also frequently rounded to 1,000 miles but is officially set at 1,049 miles (1688 km), which honors Alaska's status as the 49th U.S. state.[15]

text: In 2015 and 2017, due to lack of snow, the race had to be re-routed. The race started in Fairbanks, Alaska, and continued to Nenana (60 miles (97 km)), Manley Hot Springs (90 miles (140 km)), Tanana (66 miles (106 km)), Ruby (119 miles (192 km)), Galena (50 miles (80 km)), Husila (82 miles (132 km)), Koyukuk (86 miles (138 km)) before joining up with the normal trail at Nulato for the rest of the race.[16] The Fairbanks restart changed the official distance to 979 miles, four miles longer than the northern route, 19 less than the southern route.[17]

text: Checkpoints[edit]

text: There are currently 26 checkpoints on the northern route and 27 on the southern route where mushers must sign in. Some mushers prefer to camp on the trail and immediately press on, but others stay and rest. Mushers prepare "drop bags" of supplies which are flown ahead to each checkpoint by the Iditarod Air Force. The gear includes food for the musher and the dogs, extra booties for the dogs, headlamps for night travel, batteries (for the lamps, music, or radios), tools and sled parts for repairs, and even lightweight sleds for the final dash to Nome. There are three mandatory rests that each team must take during the Iditarod: one 24-hour layover, to be taken at any checkpoint; one eight-hour layover, taken at any checkpoint on the Yukon River; and an eight-hour stop at White Mountain.

text: In 1985, the race was suspended for the first time for safety reasons when weather prevented the Iditarod Air Force from delivering supplies to Rohn and Nikolai, the first two checkpoints in the Alaska Interior. Fifty-eight mushers and 508 dogs congregated at the small lodge in Rainy Pass for three days, while emergency shipments of food were flown in from Anchorage. Weather also halted the race later at McGrath, and the two stops added almost a week to the winning time.

text: Ceremonial start[edit]

text:
(ITC, The Iditarod Trail)

Ceremonial start

Anchorage to Campbell Airstrip 11 miles (18 km)

Highway

Campbell Airstrip to Willow 29 miles (47 km)

Restart

text: The race starts on the first Saturday in March, at the first checkpoint on Fourth Avenue in downtown Anchorage. A five-block section of the street is barricaded off as a staging area, and snow is stockpiled and shipped in by truck the night before to cover the route to the first checkpoint. Prior to 1983, the race started at Mulcahy Park.

text: Shortly before the race, a ribbon-cutting ceremony is held under the flags representing the home countries and states of all competitors in the race. The first musher to depart at 10:00 a.m. AST is an honorary musher, selected for their contributions to dog sledding. The first competitor leaves at 10:02 and the rest follow, separated by two-minute intervals. The start order is determined during a banquet held two days prior by the mushers drawing their numbers for starting position. Selections are made in the order of musher registrations.

text: This is an exciting portion of the race for dogs and musher, as it is one of the few portions of the race where there are spectators, and the only spot where the trail winds through an urban environment. However, in "Iditarod Dreams", DeeDee Jonrowe wrote, "A lot of mushers hate the Anchorage start. They don't like crowds. They worry that their dogs get too excited and jumpy.[18] The time for covering this portion of the race does not count toward the official race time, so the dogs, musher, and Idita-Rider are free to take this all in at a relaxed pace.[19] The mushers then continue through several miles of city streets and city trails before reaching the foothills to the east of Anchorage, in Chugach State Park in the Chugach Mountains. The teams then follow Glenn Highway for two to three hours until they reach Eagle River, 20 miles (32 km) away. Once they arrive at the Veterans of Foreign Wars building, the mushers check in, unharness their teams, return them to their boxes, and drive 30 miles (48 km) of highway to the restart point.

text: During the first two races in 1973 and 1974, the teams crossed the mudflats of Cook Inlet to Knik (the original restart location), but this was discontinued because the weather frequently hovers around freezing, turning it into a muddy hazard. The second checkpoint also occasionally changes because of weather; in 2005, the checkpoint was changed from Eagle River to Campbell Airstrip, 11 miles (18 km) away. In the 2016 race, due to lack of snow, the ceremonial start was 3 miles in Anchorage.[20]

text: Restart[edit]

text:
(ITC, Southern & Northern)

Restart

Willow to Yentna Station 42 mi (68 km)

Yentna Station to Skwentna 30 mi (48 km)

Skwentna to Finger Lake 40 mi (64 km)

Finger Lake to Rainy Pass 30 mi (48 km)

Into the Interior

text: After the dogs are shuttled to the third checkpoint, the race restarts the next day (Sunday) at 2:00 p.m. AST. Prior to 2004, the race was restarted at 10:00 a.m., but the time has been moved back to 2:00 P.M. so the dogs will be starting in colder weather, and the first mushers arrive at Skwentna well after dark, which reduces the crowds of fans who fly into the checkpoint.

text: The traditional restart location was the headquarters of the Iditarod Trail Committee, in Wasilla, but in 2008 the official restart was pushed further north to Willow Lake. In 2003, dwindling snow and poor trail conditions due to a warming climate forced organizers to move the start 300 miles (480 km) north to Fairbanks.[21] Originally, the race had its start in Wasilla from 1973 to 2002, the year when reduced snow cover forced a "temporary" change to Willow.[22] The mushers depart separated by the same intervals as their arrival at the second checkpoint. In 2015, the official restart had to again be moved north to Fairbanks [23] due to unusually warm temperatures and lack of snow coverage on critical parts of the trail.

text: The first 100 miles (160 km) from Willow through the checkpoints at Yentna Station Station to Skwentna is known as "moose alley". The many moose in the area find it difficult to move and forage for food when the ground is thick with snow. As a result, the moose sometimes prefer to use pre-existing trails, causing hazards for the dog teams. In 1985, Susan Butcher lost her chance at becoming the first woman to win the Iditarod when her team made a sharp turn and encountered a pregnant moose. The moose killed two dogs and seriously injured six more in the twenty minutes before Duane "Dewey" Halverson arrived and shot the moose. In 1982, Dick Mackey, Warner Vent, Jerry Austin, and their teams were driven into the forest by a charging moose.

text: Otherwise, the route to Skwentna is easy, over flat lowlands, and well marked by stakes or tripods with reflectors or flags. Most mushers push through the night, and the first teams usually arrive at Skwentna before dawn. Skwentna is a 40-minute hop from Anchorage by air, and dozens of planes land on the airstrip or on the Skwentna River, bringing journalists, photographers, and spectators.

text: From Skwentna, the route follows the Skwentna River into the southern part of the Alaska Range to Finger Lake. The stretch from Finger Lake to Rainy Pass on Puntilla Lake becomes more difficult, as teams follow the narrow Happy River Gorge, where the trail balances on the side of a heavily forested incline. Rainy Pass is the most dangerous check point in the Iditarod. In 1985, Jerry Austin broke a hand and two of his dogs were injured when the sled went out of control and hit a stand of trees. Many others have suffered from this dangerous checkpoint. Rainy Pass is part of the Historic Iditarod Trail, but until 1976 the pass was inaccessible and route detoured through Ptarmigan Pass, also known as Hellsgate, because of the 1964 Good Friday earthquake.

text: Into the Interior[edit]

text:
Into the Interior

Rainy Pass to Rohn 48 mi (77 km)

Rohn to Nikolai 75 mi (121 km)

Nikolai to McGrath 48 mi (77 km)

McGrath to Takotna 18 mi (29 km)

Takotna to Ophir 25 mi (40 km)

Trails diverge

text: From Rainy Pass, the route continues up the mountain, past the tree line to the divide of the Alaska Range, and then passes down into the Alaska Interior. The elevation of the pass is 3,200 feet (980 m), and some nearby peaks exceed 5,000 feet (1,500 m). The valley up the mountains is exposed to blizzards. In 1974, there were several cases of frostbite when the temperature dropped to −50 °F (−46 °C), and the 50-mile-per-hour (80 km/h) winds caused the wind chill to drop to −130 °F (−90 °C). The wind also erases the trail and markers, making the path hard to follow. In 1976, retired colonel Norman Vaughan, who drove a dog team in Richard E. Byrd's 1928 expedition to the South Pole and competed in the only Olympic sled dog race, became lost for five days after leaving Rainy Pass and nearly died.

text: The trail down Dalzell Gorge from the divide is regarded as the worst stretch of the trail. Steep and straight, it drops 1,000 feet (300 m) in elevation in just 5 miles (8.0 km), and there is little traction so the teams are hard to control. Mushers have to ride the brake most of the way down and use a snow hook for traction. In 1988, rookie Peryll Kyzer fell through an ice bridge into a creek and spent the night wet. The route then follows Tatina River, which is also hazardous: in 1986 Butcher's lead dogs fell through the ice but landed on a second layer of ice instead of falling into the river. In 1997, Ramey Smyth lost the end of his pinkie when it hit an overhanging branch while negotiating the gorge.[24]

text: Rohn is the next checkpoint and is located in a spruce forest with no wind and a poor airstrip. The isolation, its location immediately after the rigors of Rainy Pass and before the 75-mile (121 km) haul to the next checkpoint, makes it a popular place for mushers to take a 4-8 hour break. From Rohn, the trail follows the south fork of the Kuskokwim River, where freezing water running over a layer of ice (overflow) is a hazard. In 1975, Vaughan was hospitalized for frostbite after running through an overflow. In 1973, Terry Miller and his team were almost drawn into a hole in the river by the powerful current in an overflow but were rescued by Tom Mercer who came back to save them.

text: About 45 miles (72 km) from Rohn, the path leaves the river and passes into the Farewell Burn. In 1976, a wildfire burned 360,000 acres (1,500 km2) of spruce. The hazards left after the wildfire force teams to move very slowly and can cause paw injuries. Clumps of sedge or grass which balloon out into a canopy 2 feet (610 mm) above the ground can support a deceptively thin crust of snow. Fallen timber is also a concern.

text: Nikolai, an Athabaskan settlement on the banks of the Kuskokwim River, is the first Native American village used as a checkpoint, and the arrival of the sled teams is one of the largest social events of the year. The route then follows the south fork of the Kuskokwim to the former mining town of McGrath. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 401, making it the largest checkpoint in the Interior. McGrath is also notable for being the first site in Alaska to receive mail by aircraft (in 1924), heralding the end of the sled dog era. It still has a good airfield, so journalists are common.

text: Following McGrath is Takotna, formerly a commercial hub during the gold rush. The ghost town of Ophir, named for the reputed source of King Solomon's gold by religious prospectors, is the next checkpoint. By this stage in the race, the front-runners may be several days ahead of those in the back of the pack.

text: Northern or Southern route[edit]

text:
(ITC, Northern)

Northern route (even years)

Ophir to Cripple 73 mi (117 km)

Cripple to Ruby 70 mi (110 km)

Ruby to Galena 50 mi (80 km)

Galena to Nulato 37 mi (60 km)

Nulato to Kaltag 47 mi (76 km)

Trails rejoin

text:
(ITC, Southern)

Southern route (odd years)

Ophir to Iditarod 80 mi (130 km)

Iditarod to Shageluk 55 mi (89 km)

Shageluk to Anvik 25 mi (40 km)

Anvik to Grayling 18 mi (29 km)

Grayling to Eagle Island 62 mi (100 km)

Eagle Island to Kaltag 60 mi (97 km)

Trails rejoin

text: After Ophir, the trail diverges into a northern and a southern route, which rejoin at Kaltag. In even-numbered years (e.g. 2016, 2018) the northern route is used; in odd-numbered years (e.g. 2017, 2019) the southern route is used. During the first few Iditarods only the northern trail was used. In the late 1970s, the southern leg of the route was added. It gave the southern villages a chance to host the Iditarod race and also allowed the route to pass through the trail's namesake, the historical town of Iditarod. The two routes differ by less than 25 miles (40 km).

text: The northern route first passes through Cripple, which is 425 miles (684 km) from Anchorage, and 550 miles (890 km) from Nome (ITC, Northern), making it the middlemost checkpoint. From Cripple, the route passes through Sulatna Crossing to Ruby, on the Yukon River. Ruby is another former gold-rush town which became an Athabaskan village.

text: The southern route first passes through the ghost town of Iditarod, which is the alternate halfway mark, at 432 miles (695 km) from Anchorage, and 556 miles (895 km) from Nome (ITC, Southern). From Iditarod the route goes through the three neighboring Athabaskan villages of Shageluk, Anvik, Grayling, and then on to Eagle Island, Alaska,.

text: Ruby and Anvik are on the longest river in Alaska, the Yukon, which is swept by strong winds which can wipe out the trail and drop the windchill below −100 °F (−73 °C). A greater hazard is the uniformity of this long stretch: suffering from sleep deprivation, many mushers report hallucinations.[25]

text: Both trails meet again in Kaltag, which for hundreds of years has been a gateway between the Athabaskan villages in the Interior and the Iñupiat settlements on the coast of the Bering Sea. The "Kaltag Portage" runs through a 1,000-foot (300 m) pass down to the Iñupiat town of Unalakleet, on the shore of the Bering Sea.

text: Last dash[edit]

text:
(ITC, Southern & Northern)

Trails rejoin

Kaltag to Unalakleet 85 mi (137 km)

Last dash

Unalakleet to Shaktoolik 40 mi (64 km)

Shaktoolik to Koyuk 50 mi (80 km)

Koyuk to Elim 48 mi (77 km)

Elim to Golovin 28 mi (45 km)

Golivin to White Mountain 18 mi (29 km)

White Mountain to Safety 55 mi (89 km)

Safety to Nome 22 mi (35 km)

End of Iditarod

Southern route: 998 miles (1,606 km)

Northern route: 975 miles (1,569 km)

text: In the early years of the Iditarod, the last stretch along the shores of the Norton Sound of the Bering Sea to Nome was a slow, easy trip. Now that the race is more competitive, the last stretch has become one last dash to the finish.

text: According to the 2010 census, the village of Unalakleet has a population of 712, making it the largest Alaska Native town along the Iditarod Trail. The majority of the residents are Iñupiat. The town's name means the "place where the east wind blows". Racers are met by church bells, sirens, and crowds.

text: From Unalakleet, the route passes through the hills to the Iñupiat village of Shaktoolik. The route then passes across the frozen Norton Bay to Koyuk; the markers on the bay are young spruce trees frozen into holes in the ice. The route then swings west along the south shore of Seward Peninsula though the tiny villages of Elim, Golovin and White Mountain.

text: All teams must rest their dogs for at least eight hours at White Mountain, before the final sprint. From White Mountain to Safety is 55 miles (89 km), and from Safety to Nome it is 22 miles (35 km). The last leg is crucial because the lead teams are often within a few hours of each other at this point. As of 1991[update], the race has been decided by less than an hour seven different times, less than five minutes three times. The closest race in Iditarod history was in 1978 when the winner and the runner-up were only one second apart.

text: The official finish line is the Red "Fox" Olson Trail Monument, more commonly known as the "burled arch", in Nome. The original burled arch lasted from 1975 until 2001, when it was destroyed by dry rot and years of inclement weather. The new arch is a spruce log with two distinct burls similar but not identical to the old arch. While the old arch spelled out "End of Iditarod Dog Race", the new arch has an additional word: "End of Iditarod Sled Dog Race".

text: A "Widow's Lamp" is lit and remains hanging on the arch until the last competitor crosses the finish line. The tradition is based on the kerosene lamp lit and hung outside a roadhouse, when a musher carrying goods or mail was en route. For this reason, the last musher to complete the Iditarod is referred to as the "Red Lantern".

text: On the way to the arch, each musher passes down Front Street and down the fenced-off 50-yard (46 m) end stretch. The city's fire siren is sounded as each musher hits the 2-mile mark before the finish line. While the winner of the first race in 1973 completed the competition in just over 20 days, preparation of the trail in advance of the dog sled teams and improvements in dog training have dropped the winning time to under 10 days in every race since 1996.

text: An awards banquet is held the Sunday after the winner's arrival. Brass belt buckles and special patches are given to everyone who completes the race.

text: Participants[edit]

text: More than 50 mushers enter each year. Most are from rural South Central Alaska, the Interior, and the "Bush"; few are urban, and only a small percentage are from the Contiguous United States, Canada, or overseas. Some are professionals who make their living by selling dogs, running sled dog tours, giving mushing instruction, and speaking about their Iditarod experiences. Others make money from Iditarod-related advertising contracts or book deals. Some are amateurs who make their living hunting, fishing, trapping, gardening, or with seasonal jobs, though lawyers, surgeons, airline pilots, veterinarians, biologists, and CEOs have competed. Per rules#1 and #2, only experienced mushers are allowed to compete in the Iditarod.[26]

text: Mushers are required to participate in three smaller races in order to qualify for the Iditarod. However, they are allowed to lease dogs to participate in the Iditarod and are not required to take written exams to determine their knowledge of mushing, the dogs they race or canine first aid. If a musher has been convicted of a charge of animal neglect, or if the Iditarod Trail Committee determines the musher is unfit, they are not allowed to compete. The Iditarod Trail Committee once disqualified musher Jerry Riley for alleged dog abuse and Rick Swenson after one of his dogs expired after running through overflow. The Iditarod later reinstated both men and allowed them to race. Rick Swenson is now on the Iditarod's board of directors. Rookie mushers must pre-qualify by finishing an assortment of qualifying races first.

text: As of 2006[update], the combined cost of the entry fee, dog maintenance, and transportation was estimated by one musher to be US$20,000 to $30,000.[27] But that figure varies depending upon how many dogs a musher has, what the musher feeds the dogs and how much is spent on housing and handlers. Expenses faced by modern teams include lightweight gear including thousands of booties and quick-change runners, special high-energy dog foods, veterinary care, and breeding costs. According to Athabaskan musher Ken Chase, "the big expenses [for rural Alaskans] are the freight and having to buy dog food".[28] Most modern teams cost $10,000 to $40,000, and the top 10 spend between $80,000 and $100,000 per year. The top finisher won at least $69,000, but that amount has slowly decreased since then, with the 2010 winner receiving only $50,000. Some believe overall interest in the race may be declining, hence the lighter purses and sponsorships. The remaining top thirty finishers won an average of $26,500 each.[29] Mushers make money from their sponsorships, speaking fees, advertising contracts and book deals.

text: Dogs[edit]

text:
An Alaskan malamute, derived from the original Iñupiat sled dog breed.

A Siberian husky, the fast 1908 import from Russia.

text: The original sled dogs were bred by the Mahlemuit (also known as Kuuvangmiut or Kobuk) people and are one of the earliest domesticated breeds known. They were soon crossbred with Alaskan huskies, hounds, setters, spaniels, German shepherds, and wolves. As demand for dogs skyrocketed, a black market formed at the end of the 19th century which funneled large dogs of any breed to the gold rush. Siberian huskies were introduced in the early 20th century and became the most popular racing breed. The original dogs were chosen for strength and stamina, but modern racing dogs are all mixed-breed huskies bred for speed, tough feet, endurance, good attitude, and most importantly the desire to run. Dogs bred for long races weigh from 45 to 55 pounds (20–25 kg), and those bred for sprinting weigh less, 35 to 45 pounds (16–20 kg), but the best competitors of both types are interchangeable.

text: Starting in 1984, all dogs are examined by veterinarians/nurses before the start of the race, who check teeth, eyes, tonsils, heart, lungs, joints, and genitals; they look for signs of illegal drugs, improperly healed wounds, and pregnancy. All dogs are identified and tracked by microchip implants and collar tags. On the trails, volunteer veterinarians examine each dog's heart, hydration, appetite, attitude, weight, lungs, and joints at all of the checkpoints, and look for signs of foot and shoulder injuries, respiration problems, dehydration, diarrhea, and exhaustion. When mushers race through checkpoints, the dogs do not get physical exams. Mushers are not allowed to administer drugs that mask the signs of injury, including stimulants, muscle relaxants, sedatives, anti-inflammatories, and anabolic steroids. As of 2005[update], the Iditarod claims that no musher has been banned for giving drugs to dogs.[30] However the Iditarod never reveals the results of tests on the dogs.

text: Each team is composed of twelve to sixteen dogs, and no more may be added during the race. At least five dogs must be on the towline when crossing the finish line in Nome.[31] Mushers keep a veterinary diary on the trail and are required to have it signed by a veterinarian at each checkpoint. Dogs that become exhausted or injured may be carried in the sled's "basket" to the next "dog-drop" site, where they are transported by the volunteer Iditarod Air Force to the Hiland Mountain Correctional Center at Eagle River where they are taken care of by prison inmates until picked up by handlers or family members, or they are flown to Nome for transport home.[32] According to Iditarod veterinarian Dr. Stuart Nelson, Jr., "Reasons for dropping dogs are numerous. Attitude problems, fatigue, illness, immaturity, injury, being “in heat,” lack of speed and musher strategy, are the more common ones."[33]

text: The dogs are well-conditioned athletes. Training starts in late summer or early fall and intensifies between November and March; competitive teams run 2,000 miles (3,200 km) before the race. When there is no snow, dog drivers train using wheeled carts or all-terrain vehicles set in neutral.[citation needed] An Alaskan husky in the Iditarod will burn about 5,000 calories each day; on a body-weight basis this rate of caloric burn is 3.5 times that of a human Tour de France cyclist.[34] Similarly the VO2 max (aerobic capacity) of a typical Iditarod dog is about 240 milligrams of oxygen per kilogram of body weight, which is about three times that of a human Olympic marathon runner.[35]

text: Criticism from animal rights groups[edit]

text: Animal protection activists say that the Iditarod is not a commemoration of the 1925 serum delivery, and that race was originally called the Iditarod Trail Seppala Memorial Race in honor of Leonhard Seppala.[36] However, this criticism is inconsistent with the fact that Leonhard Seppala was one of the primary mushers who delivered serum in 1925 (see above). Animal protection activists also say that the Iditarod is dog abuse.[37] For example, dogs have died and been injured during the race. The practice of tethering dogs on chains, which is commonly used by mushers in their kennels, at checkpoints and dog drops, is also criticized. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals spokesperson Jennifer O'Connor says, "We're totally opposed to the race for the cruelty issues associated with it".[24] The ASPCA said, "General concerns arise whenever intense competition results in dogs being pushed beyond their endurance or capabilities", according to Vice President Stephen Zawistowski.[24]

text: Iditarod Trail Committee monitors the dogs' health. On May 18, 2007, the Iditarod Trail Committee Board of Directors announced that they had suspended Ramy Brooks for abusing his sled dogs. The suspension was for the 2008 and 2009 races, to be followed by three years probation. Brooks has now retired from dog racing.[38]

text: In 2017 Wells Fargo announced that it would no longer sponsor the race. While it declined to give specific reasons for the withdrawal of funds, Iditarod CEO Stan Hooley told the Associated Press that he believed the decision was connected to the activists' implications of cruelty to dogs.[39]

text: Records and awards[edit]

text: This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

text: Dick Wilmarth won the first race in the year 1973, in 20 days, 0 hours, 49 minutes, and 41 seconds. The fastest winning time was completed by Mitch Seavey with a time of 8 days, 3 hours, 40 minutes, and 13 seconds in 2017.[3] The closest finish between two mushers was in 1978 between Dick Mackey and Rick Swenson. The win was controversial because while the nose of his lead dog crossed the finish line one second ahead of Swenson's lead dog, Swenson's body crossed the finish line first.

text: The first musher to win four races was Rick Swenson, in 1982. In 1991 he became the only person to win five times and the only musher to win the race in three different decades. Susan Butcher, Doug Swingley, Martin Buser, Jeff King, Lance Mackey, and Dallas Seavey are the only other four-time winners.

text: Mary Shields was the first woman to complete the race, in 1974 (Finishing 23rd).[40] In 1985 Libby Riddles was the only musher to brave a blizzard, becoming the first woman to win the race. She was featured in Vogue, and named the Professional Sportswoman of the Year by the Women's Sports Foundation. Susan Butcher withdrew from the same race after two of her dogs were killed by a moose, but she became the second woman to win the race the next year and subsequently won three of the next four races. Butcher was the second musher to win four races and the only musher to finish in either first or second place for five straight years.

text: Doug Swingley of Montana was the first non-Alaskan to win the race, in 1995.[41] Mushers from 14 countries have competed in the Iditarod races, and in 1992 Martin Buser—a Swiss resident of Alaska since 1979—was the first foreigner to win the race. Buser became a naturalized U.S. citizen in a ceremony under the Burled Arch in Nome following the 2002 race. In 2003, Norwegian Robert Sørlie became the first non-resident of the United States to win the race.[42] Winning ceremonies included a giant decorated cupcake with sugar coated huskeys on top.

text: In 2007 Lance Mackey became the first musher to win both the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod in the same year; a feat he repeated in 2008. Mackey also joined his father and brother, Dick and Rick Mackey as an Iditarod champion. All three Mackeys raced with the bib number 13, and all won their respective titles on their sixth try.

text: The "Golden Harness" is most frequently given to the lead dog or dogs of the winning team. However, it is decided by a vote of the mushers, and in 2008 was given to Babe, the lead dog of Ramey Smyth, the 3rd-place finisher. Babe was almost 11 years old when she finished the race, and it was her ninth Iditarod.[43] The "Rookie of the Year" award is given to the musher who places the best among those finishing their first Iditarod. A red lantern signifying perseverance is awarded to the last musher to cross the finish line. The size of the purse determines how many mushers receive cash prizes. For the 2013 edition of the race, the total purse was US$600,000, to be divided by the top 30 finishers, with every finisher below 30th place receiving $1,049. The first-place winner receives a new pickup truck and $69,000 as of 2015.[44]

text: List of winners[edit]

text:
[45]

Year
Musher (wins)
Lead dog(s)
Time (h:min:s)

1973
 Dick Wilmarth
Hotfoot
20 days, 00:49:41

1974
 Carl Huntington
Nugget
20 days, 15:02:07

1975
 Emmitt Peters
Nugget and Digger
14 days, 14:43:45

1976
 Gerald Riley
Puppy and Sugar
18 days, 22:58:17

1977
 Rick Swenson
Andy and Old Buddy
16 days, 16:27:13

1978
 Dick Mackey
Skipper and Shrew
14 days, 18:52:24

1979
 Rick Swenson (2)
Quiz and Bowl
15 days, 10:37:47

1980
 Joe May
Wilbur and Cora Gray
14 days, 07:11:51

1981
 Rick Swenson (3)
Andy and Slick
12 days, 08:45:02

1982
 Rick Swenson (4)
Andy
16 days, 04:40:10

1983
 Rick Mackey
Preacher and Jody
12 days, 14:10:44

1984
 Dean Osmar
Red and Bullet
12 days, 15:07:33

1985
 Libby Riddles
Axle and Dugan
18 days, 00:20:17

1986
 Susan Butcher
Granite and Mattie
11 days, 15:06:00

1987
 Susan Butcher (2)
Granite and Mattie
11 days, 02:05:13

1988
 Susan Butcher (3)
Granite and Tolstoi
11 days, 11:41:40

1989
 Joe Runyan
Rambo and Ferlin the Husky
11 days, 05:24:34

1990
 Susan Butcher (4)
Sluggo and Lightning
11 days, 01:53:23

1991
 Rick Swenson (5)
Goose
12 days, 16:34:39

1992
 Martin Buser
Tyrone and D2
10 days, 19:17:15

1993
 Jeff King
Herbie and Kitty
10 days, 15:38:15

1994
 Martin Buser (2)
D2 and Dave
10 days, 13:05:39

1995
 Doug Swingley
Vic and Elmer
10 days, 13:02:39

1996
 Jeff King (2)
Jake and Booster
9 days, 05:43:13

1997
 Martin Buser (3)
Blondie and Fearless
9 days, 08:30:45

1998
 Jeff King (3)
Red and Jenna
9 days, 05:52:26

1999
 Doug Swingley (2)
Stormy, Cola and Elmer
9 days, 14:31:07

2000
 Doug Swingley (3)
Stormy and Cola
9 days, 00:58:06

2001
 Doug Swingley (4)
Stormy and Peppy
9 days, 19:55:50

2002
 Martin Buser (4)
Bronson
8 days, 22:46:02

2003
 Robert Sørlie
Tipp
9 days, 15:47:36

2004
 Mitch Seavey
Tread
9 days, 12:20:22

2005
 Robert Sørlie (2)
Sox and Blue
9 days, 18:39:30

2006
 Jeff King (4)
Salem and Bronte
9 days, 11:11:36

2007
 Lance Mackey
Larry and Lippy
9 days, 05:08:41

2008
 Lance Mackey (2)
Larry and Hobo
9 days, 11:46:48

2009
 Lance Mackey (3)
Larry and Maple
9 days, 21:38:46

2010
 Lance Mackey (4)
Maple
8 days, 23:59:09

2011
 John Baker
Velvet and Snickers
8 days, 18:46:39

2012
 Dallas Seavey
Guinness and Diesel
9 days, 04:29:26

2013
 Mitch Seavey (2)
Tanner and Taurus
9 days, 07:39:56

2014
 Dallas Seavey (2)
Beetle and Reef
8 days, 13:04:19

2015
 Dallas Seavey (3)
Reef and Hero
8 days, 18:13:06

2016
 Dallas Seavey (4)
Reef and Tide
8 days, 11:20:16

2017
 Mitch Seavey (3)
Pilot and Crisp
8 days, 03:40:13

text: Winners of 2 or More Races

text:
Winner
Races
Year

Rick Swenson
5
77, 79, 81, 82, 91

Susan Butcher
4
86, 87, 88, 90

Martin Buser
4
92, 94, 97, 02

Jeff King
4
93, 96, 98, 06

Doug Swingley
4
95, 99, 00, 01

Lance Mackey
4
07, 08, 09, 10

Dallas Seavey
4
12, 14, 15, 16

Mitch Seavey
3
04, 13, 17

Robert Sørlie
2
03, 05