Iditarod: 4-time champ among 3 to scratch Monday

WASILLA — One of the most well-known mushers in Iditarod history opted to bow out of the 2016 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Monday morning.

Lance Mackey, a winner of four straight Iditarod titles from 2007 to 2010, officially scratched from the race at 9:50 a.m. Monday at the Galena checkpoint, according to a press release issued by the Iditarod Trail Committee. Mackey, who was running with 15 dogs, cited personal health concerns as his reason for scratching.

Mackey was one of three mushers to scratch Monday morning. Both Willow’s Cim Smyth and Chugiak’s Jim Lanier officially scratched at 9:30 a.m. in Kaltag.

Smyth made the decision to scratch in the best interest of his team, according to an ITC release, and Lanier suffered a personal injury.

Robert Redington and Ryan Redington both scratched on Sunday.

Robert Redington made it official Sunday at 5:10 p.m. in Galena, scratching in the best interest of his team. He was running only nine dogs when he scratched. Ryan Redington scratched two hours earlier in Ruby, citing a limited number of lead dogs.

As of Monday evening, a dozen mushers had scratched. Robert Redington was the first rookie to scratch this season.