by the Iditarod Trail Committee
A lively crowd filled up the Dena’ina Civic Convention Center for the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Mushers Banquet. The banquet is the largest fundraiser for the Iditarod Trail Committee, which is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization.
The 51st running of the Last Great Race on Earth includes 24 Alaskans, 4 international mushers, 9 rookies, 24 veterans and 2 former champions. The field of 33 mushers is made up of 25 men and 8 women. The race will again be run on the Southern Route, where the halfway point will be the checkpoint Iditarod. Tonight (March 2, 2023), the mushers drew for their respective starting order and the official 2023 Iditarod race start order is:
Bib #/Musher Name City/State Status
2 Jessie Holmes Brushkana, AK Veteran
3 Bailey Vitello Milan, NH Rookie
4 Mille Porsild DENMARK Veteran
5 Ryan Redington Knik, AK Veteran
6 Kristy Berington Knik, AK Veteran
7 Matt Hall Two Rivers, AK Veteran
8 Anna Berington Knik, AK Veteran
9 Nicolas Petit Big Lake, AK Veteran
10 KattiJo Deeter Fairbanks, AK Rookie
11 Dan Kaduce Chatanika, AK Veteran
12 Hunter Keefe Knik, AK Rookie
13 Jennifer LaBar Healy, AK Rookie
14 Brent Sass Eureka, AK Veteran
15 Richie Diehl Aniak, AK Veteran
16 Matthew Failor Willow, AK Veteran
17 Eric Kelly Knik, AK Veteran
18 Eddie Burke, Jr. Anchorage, AK Rookie
19 Bridgett Watkins Fairbanks, AK Rookie
20 Jason Mackey Knik, AK Veteran
21 Riley Dyche Fairbanks, AK Veteran
22 Gerhardt Thiart Cape Town, S. Africa Rookie
23 Kelly Maixner Big Lake, AK Veteran
24 Ramey Smyth Willow, AK Veteran
25 Joanna Jagow Two Rivers, AK Veteran
26 Jessie Royer Seeley Lake, MT Veteran
27 Jed Stephensen Sandpoint, ID Rookie
28 Wade Marrs Solon Springs, WI Veteran
29 Gregg Vitello Milan, NH Rookie
30 Christian Turner Mackay, Australia Veteran
31 Aaron Peck Grande Prairie, AB Canada Veteran
32 Mike Williams, Jr. Akiak, AK Veteran
33 Peter Kaiser Bethel, AK Veteran
34 Deke Naaktgeboren Fairbanks, AK Veteran
The ceremonial start took place on Saturday, March 4, at 10 a.m., in downtown Anchorage, followed by the official restart in Willow on Sunday, March 5, at 2 p.m. Sled dog teams will leave from the start line at each start in two minute intervals.
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