WILLOW, Alaska — How bad a winter has it been for training sled dogs in Alaska? New Orleans has gotten more snow in 2025 than Anchorage. With the nearly 1,000-mile 2025 Iditarod Sled Dog Race coming up in little more than a month, the unusually warm and mild Alaskan winter continues to throw curveballs at […]
Alaskan Husky Adventures
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Mansfield native preps for Iditarod with Copper Basin 300 ‘training run’ in Alaska
GLENALLEN, Alaska — Mansfield native Matthew Failor took his sled dog team on a 300-mile training run and camping trip over the weekend. It just happened to be during the 2025 Copper Basin 300 Sled Dog Race, finishing 22nd out of 30 teams during unseasonably warm temperatures. During an interview with Richland Source last week, […]
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Iditarod prep: Mansfield’s Matthew Failor to mush Saturday in Copper Basin 300
WILLOW, Alaska — Matthew Failor seriously considered not racing in the 2025 Idiatrod Sled Dog Race across Alaska. In fact, the 42-year-old Mansfield St. Peter’s graduate didn’t make it official until the last minute, officially entering the “The Last Great Race” on Dec. 2, the final day for admissions. That means Failor will launch his […]
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He’s back! Mansfield native Matthew Failor to launch 14th Iditarod in Alaska
WILLOW, ALASKA — Matthew Failor is headed back across Alaska in 2025. The Mansfield native will launch his 14th Iditarod effort when what’s been dubbed “The Last Great American Race” begins its 53rd campaign with a ceremonial start in Anchorage on March 1. The 42-year-old Failor made it official on Monday when he entered the […]
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Failor talks Iditarod, life in Alaska during hometown visit
MANSFIELD — Mansfield native Matthew Failor began his live interview with a warning Thursday night. “I’m not a public speaker, I just scoop dog poop for a living,” joked Failor, an Alaskan sled dog racer. The 2000 Mansfield St. Peter’s graduate sat down with Richland Source City Editor Carl Hunnell for “An evening with Matthew […]
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‘An evening with Matthew Failor:’ Meet Mansfield’s Iditarod racer on April 11
Editor’s note: This event officially SOLD OUT as of March 28. All tickets were sold within 10 hours of going on sale. MANSFIELD — Thousands of north central Ohio residents followed Mansfield native Matthew Failor during the 2024 Iditarod sled dog race via daily Richland Source coverage. We are now going to give you the […]
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Matthew Failor honored as best sportsman from 2024 Iditarod race across Alaska
NOME, Alaska — Matthew Failor was in perfect position for another Top 10 finish in the famed Iditarod sled dog race across Alaska. But the 42-year-old Mansfield native was also in perfect position to help a disconsolate young musher, who saw one of his dogs die about 650 miles into the nearly 1,000-mile race from […]
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‘I am happy to be here:’ Matthew Failor finishes 2024 Iditarod race across Alaska
NOME, Alaska — The 2024 Iditarod wasn’t officially over Wednesday until Cadillac kissed Theo Failor in Nome. Actually, the loving licks from the veteran husky to the 8-month old were just a part of the celebration as Mansfield native Matthew Failor — Da-Da to Theo — arrived at the finish line at 5:35 p.m. AKDT […]
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Mansfield native Matthew Failor nearing finish of his 12th Iditarod Sled Dog Race
Editor’s note: Richland Source is posting daily updates on Mansfield native Matthew Failor’s efforts at the 2024 Iditarod Sled Dog Race, which began March 3. Updates post daily at 8 a.m. and may be updated during the day. (UPDATE: Matthew Failor crossed the finish line in Nome at 5:28 p.m. AKDT, finishing 13th among 38 […]
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Special delivery: Matthew Failor keeps Iditarod pizza delivery tradition alive
Editor’s note: Richland Source is posting daily updates on Mansfield native Matthew Failor’s efforts at the 2024 Iditarod Sled Dog Race, which began March 3. Updates post daily at 8 a.m. and may be updated during the day. (UPDATE: Dallas Seavey won his record sixth Iditarod championship on Tuesday, crossing the finish line in Nome […]