Junior Iditarod dog dies during race

WILLOW — A medical examination revealed gastric ulcers caused a dog to die shortly before Sunday’s finish of the Junior Iditarod Sled Dog race.

Jeff Holt, a 17-year-old from North Pole who was running the 150-mile race for the fourth time, left Yentna Station heading for Willow with his team of eight dogs, Race Director Michelle Pearson said. A short distance before the Susitna River crossing, Holt stopped to snack his dogs, she said.

“That dog went down and didn’t come back up,” Pearson said.

She said Holt tried to resuscitate the dog then brought it to the support station at the river crossing. Race officials radioed ahead, and Holt brought the dog to the first road crossing where it was picked up.

Holt finished the race five hours later.

More on this story in Tuesday’s Frontiersman.