Record purse expected for 2004 Iditarod race

Frontiersman reporter

WASILLA -- Almost $85,000 more will be distributed to finishers in next year's Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race than was awarded this year, race officials believe.

The 2004 race purse will total $700,000, according to an estimate released Saturday during the Iditarod Trail Committee annual meeting. That would be an increase from last year's record purse of $614,686.

If the prediction is accurate, the top 30 finishers next year will split $673,775 with other finishers receiving a portion of $26,225.

The race paid a total purse of $576,225 in 2002, $578,323 in 2001 and $564,862 in 2000.

Revenues and expenses for the event continue to climb. While both stood at just under $2.4 million in fiscal year 2002, figures released Saturday show expenses of $2.75 million and revenues of $2.9 million during the 2003 fiscal year.

Sponsorship provided 35 percent of Iditarod's cash revenue during FY 2003, with raffle proceeds adding 22 percent and merchandising contributing 21 percent.

The race itself accounted for 45 percent of Iditarod's expenses during the period. That was followed by general expenses and administration, 16 percent; merchandising, 12 percent; and raffle and sponsorship costs at 10 percent apiece.

The ITC also elected new board members during the meeting. Rick Swenson of Two Rivers and John Handeland of Nome were re-elected to three-year terms, while Mark Moderow of Eagle River was elected to three-year term. Dan Seavey of Seward was re-elected to a one-year term representing mushers.

There was time for some humor, too, during the meeting prior to initial sign-up for the 2004 race. One volunteer in the audience said he'd been asked by a telephone caller from Lower 48 why mushers don't eat in restaurants during the race. ITC president Rick Koch added that he once got an e-mail from a Lower 48 fan asking which credit card is most readily accepted at hotels along the trail.