A moose attack, an injured dog, an improper gutting: drama at Alaska’s Iditarod, explained

The Iditarod – of which this year’s is the 52nd edition – takes place across Alaska. Photograph: Kerry Tasker/Reuters

This year’s Iditarod sled-dog race in Alaska has gotten off to a bumpy start.

Mushers and their 16-dog teams, who train year-round to race across a 1,000-mile stretch of ice and snow, try to prepare for all eventualities during the treacherous journey across Alaska. But they weren’t quite prepared for the twists and turns of this year’s race.