Photos from this year's Iditarod Ceremonial Start in Anchorage ~ Official Iditarod Home Page
History of the Iditarod ~ See a list of all the sled dog races Libby has participated in
“LIBBY DID IT!” This was the headline plastered across the front page of the Anchorage Times. On Wednesday, March 20, 1985, Libby Riddles made history. She became the first woman to win the grueling 1,049-mile Iditarod Sled Dog Race, after a daring move across Norton Sound in a deadly blizzard. The feat captured the attention of the nation. She soon appeared in magazines of all kinds - from Sports Illustrated to Vogue, as well as numerous newspapers around the world. In addition to her victory, she was named the 1985 Sportswoman of the Year by the Women’s Sports Foundation and honored by the Iditarod veterinarians with the 1985 Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian Award  for her humane treatment of her dogs. Also, her champion lead dogs, Dugan and Sister, won the 1985 Golden Harness Award which is given to the outstanding lead dog(s) during the Iditarod race.

Here are some photos from Libby's 1985 winning race: (click on the photos to see a larger version)

Libby at the finish line
Libby at the Finish line with champion lead dogs, Dugan and Axel
(Photo by Anchorage Daily News)

 Libby at the 1985 finish
Finish of 1985 Race
 (Photo by Frontiersman)		 Day 1 of the 1985 Iditarod - Libby and Team
Day 1 of the race, Libby and the Team
Dugan's team on the Yukon river
Dugan's team - The winning team on the Yukon River, Dugan and Axle in lead 		Finish line photo of Libby with her lead dogs
1985 Iditarod finish line in Nome
 (Jeff Schultz photo) 		Coming into Koyuk
Coming into Koyuk- the Storm Libby went through to win the race