A Duluth musher has dropped out of the famed Iditarod dog-sled race in Alaska after the death of one of his dogs.
Zaster, a 7-year-old male, likely died Saturday of pneumonia, race officials said in a news release. Further tests are planned.
The death, the first of this year's competition, prompted the end of John Stetson's maiden run about midway through the race. Zaster left the team Friday.
According to the nonprofit Sled Dog Action Coalition, there has been at least one sled dog death in nearly every Iditarod race.
Through 1997, the coalition pointed out, the Anchorage Daily News reported that "at least 107 [dogs] have died." In the years since, 23 more dogs have died, the coalition says on its website, www.helpsleddogs.org.
As for the race itself, defending champion Lance Mackey beat four-time champion Jeff King out of the Unalakleet checkpoint Sunday night, launching the 1,100-mile race's last leg.
A field of 86 mushers remained on the trail as of daybreak today. They include Blake Freking, of Finland, Minn., who is in 55th place, and his wife, Jennifer, who is in 56th.
Also, Joe Gans, who graduated from Chaska High School in 2003 and now lives in Alaska, is 61st; Jake Berkowitz, who grew up in St. Paul and now lives in Michigan, is 62nd; and Richard Savoyski, who grew up in Chanhassen and now lives in Alaska, is 77th.
The front-runners take about 10 days to make the trek, so the winner could cross the finish line under Nome's arch by Tuesday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
