61....

As expected/feared Rookie musher Justin Savidis (Bib #10) has had to withdraw from the race at McGrath as he continues to search for three year-old Whitey.

It's got to be heart breaking to have trained all year for with a team of dogs who supposedly know what is expected of them only to have one rascal decide to take off on his own and ruin the party. There have been one or two reports of sightings around the airport at McGrath and the Iditarod air force has been keeping their eyes open as they fly along the trail, but all has been for naught.

I wish Justin well in finding Whitey...and don't be too hard on him. After, all Whitey is 3 years old, that's almost like a teen in human terms.

******

Meanwhile, at the front of the pack, Jeff King continues to lead Lance Mackey and Hugh Neff by about one and a half hours (approximately 12 miles) as they head from Galena toward Nulato on the Yukon River. Neff is right on Mackey's tail, leaving Galena 5 minutes after Lance. Mitch Seavey and Hans Gatt are about an hour and a half behind that pair.

(See all the current standings here.)