Talkeetna musher Gerald Sousa joined 59 other mushers to sign up for the 2010 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race. On Saturday, Iditarod mushers and volunteers met at the Wasilla Iditarod Trail Committee headquarters for the first day of sign up in next year’s race.

In all, 60 mushers hailing from Alaska, the lower 48, Canada, Scotland and even Jamaica handed in their sign-up paperwork and the newly increased entry fee of $4,000. Citing increased costs to put on the race, the ITC has increased the entry fee from $1,875 in 2007 to $3,000 in 2008 and $4,000 for the 2009 and 2010 races.

Four time Iditarod champions Jeff King and Martin Buser, three time Iditarod champion Lance Mackey and 2004 champion Mitch Seavey entered the race as well as 19 rookies.

The purse is set at $630,000, with $610,000 paid out to the top 30 finishers, and $1,049 apiece for the rest of the pack.

Mushers attending the picnic get to participate in a lottery that waives the entry fee. This year’s two winners were Denali musher Jeff King and Kotzebue musher Robert Nelson.

A new rule sees that mushers get to draw for their starting position in the order of their sign up either in person or via mail. Sousa’s drawing position is 38, meaning that he is the 38^th person to draw for starting position.

Another new rule to become effective in 2012 is that rookies have to log at least 750 miles in pre-qualifying races, which is up from 500 miles.

The ITC is also finalizing a new rule that enforces drug testing of mushers.

The next Iditarod starts March 7 with a ceremonial start in Anchorage and a restart in Willow the following day.

(Story by Diana Haecker)