Senior Seavey wins second Iditarod, many racers still on the trail

MAT-SU — Once again Dallas Seavey of Willow was the top-finishing Valley musher in the Iditarod, but this time he was three hours and four places behind his father, two-time champion Mitch Seavey who finished first Tuesday night.

During the preceding days, the race was a battle between Seavey and Aliy Zirkle — who has finished second to a Seavey for the past two years — with four-time champion Jeff King giving chase in the three spot.

Last year, Seavey’s son notched a spot in history as the youngest musher to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog and this year his dad placed a booked on that win when at age 54 he became the oldest musher to win the race. It has been nine years since the senior Seavey’s was first to cross beneath the burled arch in 2004.

Other Valley mushers to finish as of Wednesday morning include:

In fourth place, Ray Redington Jr.

In eighth, Big Lake’s Jake Berkowitz

In 10th, DeeDee Jonrowe of Willow

In 15th place, Cim Smyth of Big Lake

The Valley saw its first racers scratch on Tuesday when both Jason Mackey, of Meadow Lakes and Rudy Demoski, Sr., of Wasilla, dropped out of this year’s race in Unalakleet.

Demoski, who returned to the sport after 27 away, finished fourth when he first ran the Iditarod in 1974. He told the Iditarod that he was calling it quits out of concern for his team.

Mackey also was returning after a hiatus. His brothers are four-time champion Lance Mackey, 1983 champ Rick and race finisher Bill Mackey, and all four are the sons of 1978 champion Dick Mackey.

Jason Mackey told race officials he was bowing out due to personal illness.

Meanwhile, the remaining Valley mushers were still spread along the last 400 miles of trail Wednesday. In last place was Bob Chulpach, of Willow, who departed Eagle Island just before 7 p.m., Tuesday.

Martin Buser is the highest-ranking musher yet to arrive in Nome. Although his unorthodox race strategy gave him the early lead, it apparently did not pan out as he was set for a 17^th-place finish as of 10:45 a.m., and expected to cross the finish line in minutes.

Kelly Maixner, who has been working with the Frontiersman on a series of race stories, was in 30th and on the trail between Elim and White Mountain.

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.