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“A little scary:” Iditarod begins with smallest field ever

FILE - Dfending Iditarod champion Lance Mackey drives his team as he arrives first into the Unalakleet, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 15, 2009. Only 33 mushers will participate in the ceremonial start of the Iditarod on Saturday, March 4, the smallest field ever to take their dog teams nearly 1,000 miles (1,609 kilometers) over Alaska's unforgiving wilderness. This year's lineup is smaller even than the 34 mushers who lined up for the very first race in 1973. (AP Photo/Al Grillo,File) FILE - Martin Buser pulls his team into the Rainy Pass, Alaska, checkpoint of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, March 9, 2009. Only 33 mushers will participate in the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Saturday, March 4, the smallest field ever. (AP Photo/Al Grillo, File) FILE - A lead dog on musher Martin Buser's team rears up and barks at the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Anchorage, Alaska, March 2, 2013. Only 33 mushers will participate in the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Saturday, March, 4, 2023, the smallest field ever. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File) FILE - Jeff King takes his sled dog team through a snowstorm in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, March 4, 2022, during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Only 33 mushers will participate in the ceremonial start of the Iditarod on Saturady, March 4, the smallest field ever. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File) FILE - Martin Buser drives his team off of the Takotna River and into the Takotna, Alaska, checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 11, 2009. Only 33 mushers will participate in the ceremonial start of the Iditarod on Saturday, March 4, the smallest field ever to take their dog teams nearly 1,000 miles (1,609 kilometers) over Alaska's unforgiving wilderness. This year's lineup is smaller even than the 34 mushers who lined up for the very first race in 1973. (AP Photo/Al Grillo, File)