Portrait of 1975 Iditarod Champion Emmitt Peters
The Iditarod was informed on Friday, April 3, 2020 that 1975 Iditarod Champion, Emmitt Peters passed away in his home late last night. Emmitt (aka The Yukon Fox) was not only a great competitor, and champion, but he was also a great elder in Ruby. A Celebration of Life is scheduled for late summer or early fall in Ruby, Alaska.
Emmitt Peters Team on Ice Bridge Farewell Burn 1990 Iditarod
Emmitt Peters began mushing at age 6. Peters entered 14 Iditarod races, completed 13, and became known as “The Yukon Fox”, shortened from ‘Yukon River Fox’. His racing career spanned 1975 – 1985 and 1990, 1992 and 2000. Peters won the Iditarod in 1975 as a rookie and earned Rookie of the Year that same year. Peters broke the record, at the time, with a time of 14 days, 14 hours, 43 minutes and 15 seconds. The previous two races had not been completed in under 20 days. Peters earned seven top fives, eight top tens, and has finished in all of the top five places: 1st,through 5th, finishing 4th twice. Peter’s winning record held until 1980. He Held the record for fastest Rookie of the Year for six years until George Attla in 1981 (13 days, 22 hrs).
Nugget and Digger were Emmitt’s lead dogs the year he won. (Carl Huntington borrowed Nugget and won the year before). Other awards Peters earned were the Golden Harness in 1979, Halfway Award in 1982, and Most Inspirational Musher Award 2000.
Peters other racing credits are: 1st place in Chugiak Carnival, Galena Carnival, Norton Sound 250 and Ruby Carnival. 2nd Place in Ruby Long-Creek Historical Race
Emmitt Peters in Blizzard Norton Sound ’85 Iditarod AK near Koyuk
(Special thanks to Jeff Schultz for providing photos of Emmitt)
