Moore, Hall, Neese Finish As Top Three In 2018 Yukon Quest
![A dog team and musher race out of the finish chute, with people cheering them on](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Quest-2005-Whitehorse.jpg)
Moore claims his third Yukon Quest win after finishing first in 2013 and 2014. Third-place finisher Laura Neese arrived into the Whitehorse finish just before 5:00 PST this afternoon.
Western Alaska Mushers Out; Remaining Teams All Between Circle and Eagle; Moore Maintains Lead
![Photo: KNOM file.](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/dogsfull-1200x800.jpg)
Ike Underwood of Aniak was the fourth musher in a span of 24 hours to drop out of the race yesterday. According to the Quest, Underwood activated his race-tracking device and requested assistance almost 25 miles outside of the Circle checkpoint. Underwood and his dogs were found to be in good health, but the Quest rookie decided to withdraw for his safety and that of his team.
Moore Leads Pack As Mushers Enter Second Quarter of Yukon Quest
![A dogsled team departs a log cabin at Slaven's Roadhouse. Photo Credit: National Park Service (2013)](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/YukonQuestSlavens-1024x683.jpg)
Six mushers have left Circle and are heading down the 160-mile stretch to Eagle, Alaska. 2013 Quest champion Allen Moore retains his lead in first position.
First Scratch of 2018 Yukon Quest, Moore Maintains Lead Out of Circle Checkpoint
![Katherine Keith tending to her dogs in Kaltag before departing for Unalakleet.](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/20170312-ZH-Katherine-Keith-tending-to-her-dogs-in-Kaltag-before-departing-for-Unalakleet-1200x800.jpg)
Katherine Keith and Mike Ellis made the decision to scratch from the race for different reasons. Keith stopped due to a broken wrist, and Ellis announced around 2pm yesterday for the health and well-being of his team. Looking at the remaining field of 24 mushers, leading the pack is 2013 Quest champion Allen Moore, who was the first one out of the Circle checkpoint.
2018 Yukon Quest Begins on Saturday
![A group of sled dogs dashes over the snow in front of a crowd behind white and yellow barriers.](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/YukonQuest-start-1200x900.jpg)
26 teams, including two mushers from Western Alaska, are set to compete on a 1,000-mile course from Fairbanks to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.
Mushers from Multiple Countries and Western AK Signed Up for 2018 Yukon Quest
![A dogsled team departs a log cabin at Slaven's Roadhouse. Photo Credit: National Park Service (2013)](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/YukonQuestSlavens-1024x683.jpg)
An international competition, the Yukon Quest features mushers from Germany, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, the US and UK, as well as New Zealand this year. Ike Underwood of Aniak is a Quest rookie and the only musher from Western Alaska signed up thus far.