NOME, Alaska — Four mushers scratched Tuesday from the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
Jan Steves, of Edmonds, left the race at the Eagle Island checkpoint. She had 15 dogs at the time, but told race officials quitting was in the best interest of her team.
Robert Bundtzen of Anchorage also scratched at Shaktoolik while he had 15 dogs on his team. He says his decision was made because his team wasn’t performing up to expectations.
Earlier in the day, two Wasilla mushers also scratched, Jason Mackey because of the flu and Rudy Demonski Sr. out of concern for his team.
Sixty-six teams took part in the ceremonial start of the race on March 2 in Anchorage. Since then, nine teams have scratched and one musher was withdrawn.
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