2007 Iditarod

The ceremonial start of the 35th annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race across the U.S. state of Alaska began amidst the crowds of Anchorage at 10 am (AKST) on March 3, 2007, and the start of the competitive race, or "restart", began at 2 pm the next day in Willow.

The race followed the southern route for 1,151 mi (1,852 km) across the Alaska Range, through the sparsely inhabited Interior, along the Yukon River, and then up the coast of the Bering Sea to the city of Nome.

One of the largest crowds ever watched as 82 teams composed of a musher and twelve dogs pulling a dogsled, left the starting chute at the corner of Fourth and D Streets, and followed the 11 mi (18 km) route through the urban center to Campbell Air Strip.

The remainder of the top 5 were Robert Sorlie, Jason Barron, Rick Swenson, and three-time Yukon Quest champion Lance Mackey.

The remainder of the top 5 were Zack Steer, Jim Lanier, Cim Smyth, and Sebastian Schnuele.

The field dropped to 79 teams after Butch Austin, Frank Sihler, and Jeff Holt scratched from the race.

The remainder of the top five were Lance Mackey, Aliy Zirkle, Tim Osmar, and Ramey Smith.

Poor trail and weather conditions caused eleven teams to scratch from the race.

[7][8][9][10][11] Tom Roig, Dan Huttunen, Perry Solmonson, and Scott White scratched on March 7.

The remainder of the top five were Cim Smyth, Lance Mackey, Zack Steer, and Martin Buser.

He was followed by Paul Gebhardt (11:05 am), Zack Steer (11:48 am), Aliy Zirkle (11:48 am), and Jason Barron (12:34 pm).

He was followed by Zack Steer (12:05 am, March 7), Jeff King (1:14 am), Jason Barron (1:38 am), and Paul Gebhardt (1:52 am).

He won the GCI Dorothy Page Halfway Award and $4,000 in placer gold nuggets.

He was followed by Martin Buser at 10:48 pm, Jeff King at 12:21 am on March 9, Lance Mackey at 2:31 am, and Paul Gebhardt at 2:44 am.

The rest of the top ten departed within 11 hours and 42 minutes of Steer's time[28] The field dropped to 63 teams when Linwood Fielder scratched from the race on March 9.

Eight minutes later, Paul Gebhardt arrived at 11:13 am and departed at 11:15 am[30] Anvik: Martin Buser arrived in Anvik on the Yukon River at 10:45 am in first place and was awarded the First Musher to the Yukon Award which consists of a seven course meal and $3,500 in cash.

[32] Martin Buser departed Anvik in first after taking his mandatory eight-hour layover at 6:45 pm.

[39] Twenty-three mushers were scratched from the race: Note: All monetary values are in United States Dollars Witnesses said they saw Ramy Brooks punch and kick some of his dogs and hit them with a ski pole when they refused to leave a checkpoint during a March 15, 2007 stage in Golovin, Alaska, less than 100 miles (160 km) from the finish in Nome, Alaska.

Brooks denies the more serious allegations,[46] but acknowledged "spanking" the dogs in his team with a trail marking lathe.

Musher Perry Solmonson stated "It is just a sad situation, I hope as a board you will have some integrity and do what is necessary for the dogs.

"[50] Iditarod Trail Committee President, Richard Burmeister announced on April 26, 2007, that the ongoing independent investigation being conducted by the Anchorage, Alaska law firm of Davis Wright Tremaine is not yet complete.

[51] Race officials are hoping the report will be ready for the board of directors meeting on April 26, 2007.

Stan Hooley said it is unlikely the board will make an immediate decision on consequences ranging from doing nothing to a lifetime ban.

[52] On May 18, 2007, the Iditarod Trail Committee Board of Directors announced that they had suspended Ramy Brooks for abusing his sled dogs.

Ramy Brooks at the 2006 Iditarod