Jessie Holmes and his sled dogs rolled into Nome at 9:30 p.m. AKDT on March 17, crossing under the famous Burled Arch to screaming fans and securing his second straight Iditarod victory. He is one of six mushers to win the race consecutively since it began in 1973.
This year’s Iditarod Sled Dog Race followed the northern route, covering roughly 1,000 miles from Willow to Nome. The race began on March 8, and it took Holmes just over 9 days to reach the finish line.
Shortly after his arrival, Holmes handed out ribeye steaks to his dogs.
“Dogs first, man, dogs first,” Holmes said in the finish chute. “They deserve all the glory.”
For his victory, Holmes earned $80,000. He named nine-year-old Polar, an all-white dog, and Zeus, a black-and-white three-year-old, as his Golden Harness-winning most valuable dogs. A total of 34 mushers competed in this year’s race.
Holmes was asked if he’d be seeking a three-peat, with the race set to run its southern route in 2027.
“That’s what we’re going to be shooting for,” he said. “And we’re going to be shooting to break that southern route record, because that’s our favorite route. We can’t wait.”
