ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Tracking information shows four-time winner Jeff King of Denali Park was the first musher into Ruby, Alaska, early Friday in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
Ruby is the first checkpoint on the Yukon River and the next 150 miles of the route follow the river.
King was followed by Lance Mackey of Fairbanks, the defending champion who is going for a fourth straight win, and Hugh Neff of Tok.
Seventeen mushers have left Cripple, the halfway checkpoint on the 1,100-mile race to Nome.
Seven of the 71 mushers who left Willow on Sunday have scratched.
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