March 20, 1985 - Libby Riddles

Libby Riddles makes history for women in winning Iditarod Trail dogsled race. In 1925, a diphtheria epidemic required medical supplies to be rushed to Nome, Alaska. Traditional methods of transport could get no goods further than within 674 miles of the site. Teams of dogsleds rushed the precious medicine the rest of the way. In 1973, Alaskan officials decided to memorialize this traipse by turning the 1,150-mile Iditarod Trail between Anchorage and Nome into an official race. Soon, hardy drivers (mushers) and their dog teams from around the world were flocking to the gruelling event. In 1980, a young woman who had moved from Wisconsin to Alaska at the age of 16 entered her first Iditarod race and placed 18th. After landing 20th the following year, she knew she needed a new approach, so she teamed up with Joe Garnie to breed and train her own dogs. On March 20, 1985, through a blinding blizzard, Riddles crossed the finish line after 18 days, 20 minutes and 17 seconds on the trail. She became the first woman to win the race and its $50,000 purse, and cashed in on her victory by becoming an author and public speaker besides a race-dog breeder.

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