What happens in the Iditrod when your dogs quit…a loss of over $44,000!!!

Poised for a 3rd-place Iditarod finish, Brent Sass slipped to 20th. Here’s what happened:

Tegan Hanlon
Alaska Dispatch News
March 16, 2016

NOME — Brent Sass tried to keep up with the Seaveys. And for many miles he did.

At some points, Sass led the 1,000-mile 2016 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race to Nome. At others, he was sandwiched between the record-setting teams of father-and-son duo Mitch and Dallas Seavey.

But then things went wrong.

When Sass reached White Mountain at 11:40 a.m. Monday, 77 miles from the finish line, he was in third place — just behind the Seaveys. He completed his mandatory eight-hour rest there. And then his team gave up.

Sass’ dogs didn’t want to get up and go again.

“Just mentally, I wore them out. I pushed it a little bit too far,” Sass said. “It’s been a gut-wrenching 24 hours.”

Instead, Sass and his team rested at the White Mountain checkpoint for more than a full day. That cost Sass third place and a $57,750 prize. Eventually, the 36-year-old Yukon Quest champion from Eureka finished in 20th place, winning $13,575.

Some great photos at the link.