<P> Redington along with two school teachers , Gleo Huyck and Tom Johnson , was the impetus behind extending the race more than 1,000 miles ( 1,600 km ) along the historic route to Nome . The three co-founders of the race started in October 1972 to plan the now famous race . A major fundraising campaign which raised a purse of $51,000 was also started at the same time . This race was the first true Iditarod Race and was held in 1973 , and attracted a field of 34 mushers , 22 of whom completed the race . Dorothy Page had nothing to do with the 1973 race , stating that she `` washes her hands of the event '' . The event was a success ; even though the purse dropped in the 1974 race , the popularity caused the field of mushers to rise to 44 , and corporate sponsorship in 1975 put the race on secure financial footing . Despite the loss of sponsors during a dog abuse scandal in 1976 , the Iditarod caused a resurgence of recreational mushing in the 1970s , and has continued to grow until it is now the largest sporting event in the state . The race was originally patterned after the All Alaska Sweepstakes races held early in the 20th century . </P>
<P> Redington along with two school teachers , Gleo Huyck and Tom Johnson , was the impetus behind extending the race more than 1,000 miles ( 1,600 km ) along the historic route to Nome . The three co-founders of the race started in October 1972 to plan the now famous race . A major fundraising campaign which raised a purse of $51,000 was also started at the same time . This race was the first true Iditarod Race and was held in 1973 , and attracted a field of 34 mushers , 22 of whom completed the race . Dorothy Page had nothing to do with the 1973 race , stating that she `` washes her hands of the event '' . The event was a success ; even though the purse dropped in the 1974 race , the popularity caused the field of mushers to rise to 44 , and corporate sponsorship in 1975 put the race on secure financial footing . Despite the loss of sponsors during a dog abuse scandal in 1976 , the Iditarod caused a resurgence of recreational mushing in the 1970s , and has continued to grow until it is now the largest sporting event in the state . The race was originally patterned after the All Alaska Sweepstakes races held early in the 20th century . </P>
when did the first iditarod race take place
when did the first iditarod race take place
1973
1973