Willow, Alaska

(AP Photo/Al Grillo)

This March 11, 2009, file photo, shows Matt Hayashida, of Willow, Alaska, driving his team along the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race trail near the Takotna, Alaska checkpoint. The 38th running of the world’s most famous sled dog race kicks off Saturday amid depleted finances that have slashed the cash purse even as the cost of competitive mushing continues to climb.