Veteran Iditarod musher Rick Casillo scratches at Iditarod checkpoint

Veteran Iditarod musher Rick Casillo (bib #45) of Talkeetna, Alaska, scratched at 9:59 a.m. today at the Iditarod checkpoint.

Casillo made the decision to scratch in the best interest of his race team. Casillo had 13 dogs in harness at the time he made the decision to scratch.