World Report: March 27, 1998 Vol.3 No.21

The Iditarod's Top Dogs

Neither cold, nor wind, nor blinding snow could stop Jeff King and his dogs last week. King came from behind to win Alaska's yearly Iditarod Sled Dog Race. The prize: $51,000 and a pickup truck. This is King's third victory. He finished the 1,100-mile race in 9 days, 5 hours and 52 minutes. A late-winter storm made the final 77 miles especially tough. King said it was snowing so hard that he could barely see his lead dog, Red. King gives Red much of the credit for the win. "He went from a good lead dog to a fantastic lead dog. I've never had a better one," said King.