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/ Press Releases / MACKEY IS THE FIRST TO REACH IDITAROD GOLD
MACKEY IS THE FIRST TO REACH IDITAROD GOLD
by Staff
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For Further Information Contact:
Chas St.George, Director Public Relations 907.232.0503
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA - (March 12, 2009)
IDITAROD XXXVII Musher Lance Mackey (Bib #47) is the first to arrive in the Ghost Town of Iditarod on the banks of Iditarod Creek. The two-time Iditarod Champion reached Iditarod at 5:20 pm Alaska Time with 16 dogs. The Iditarod Checkpoint signifies the halfway point in this "Last Great Race" to Nome.
Mackey's phenomenal pace between Takotna and Iditarod netted him the GCI Dorothy Page Halfway Award as well as $3,000 in gold nuggets, courtesy of Iditarod Principal Partner GCI. GCI's Field Service Lead, Fred Estes, was on hand to present the award to the two-time Iditarod Champion.
The Ghost town of Iditarod was once a bustling community of more than 10,000. Between 1908 and 1925, dog teams helped build this gold rush community by hauling supplies, mail, and an estimated $35 million in gold from the mining district. At the time gold was valued at only $20 an ounce.
The GCI Dorothy Page Halfway Award will be re-presented to Mackey in Nome on Sunday, March 22nd, during the Iditarod Awards Banquet at the Nome Recreation Center.
