Jessie Holmes Wins Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

0:00Local headlines in two minutes or less, you're tuned in to Anchorage News today. Jesse Holmes, from Bruce Connick Creek, off the Denali Highway, claimed victory in the 2026 I Didaraj trail sled dog race, becoming the first, repeat champion in a decade. He won back-to-back races on different paths, including last year's record, 1,130 mile course from Fairbanks and this year's. Standard 1,000 mile northern brow from Willow, his team crossed the finish line in Nome on the evening of March 17th. Holmes and his 12-dog team can't stop, completed the run in 9 days, 7 hours, and 32 minutes, holding the lead for most of the race. After starting March 8th, they faced tough winds and wind chills down to 45 below earlier on, but power through to the Burled Arch. Fans brave sub-zero temperatures to cheer Holmes and his lead dogs, Zeus and Polar as police vehicles escorted them down Front Street on St. Patrick's. Holmes celebrated with high fives and arm pumps, always putting his dogs first by feeding

1:03them ribeye steaks right after and tending to them carefully on the trail. A veteran of 9 I Didarajs, Holmes earned rookie of the year in 2018 and top 10 finishes in most races. Originally from Alabama and known from the show Life Below Zero, he focuses on rest and nutrition to build his team's strength and speed for long. Race officials awarded Holmes $80,000 and golden harnesses to 9-year-old Polar and three-year-old Zeus. He plans to chase a three-peat on the southern route in 2027. The field was the second smallest ever with 34 mushars and a few dropped out along the way. This episode is brought to you by our sponsor, See the episode description. Your pillow, your podcast, your moment, made for listening in bed, S-O-L-I-S-O-L-P-Lo.com.