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 […]
Liz Failor
Posted inOutdoor
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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‘Da-Da!:’ Theo Failor recognizes his father racing in the 2024 Iditarod in Alaska
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 arrived at the Shaktoolik checkpoint Monday at 12:58 p.m. ADT with the 12 remaining […]
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Waiting and resting: Mansfield native Matthew Failor well positioned at Iditarod
Editor’s note: Richland Source is posting daily updates on Mansfield native Matthew Failor’s efforts at the 2024 Iditarod Sled Dog Race. Updates post daily at 8 a.m. (UPDATE: Matthew Failor ended his 24-hour rest period Thursday at 10:04 a.m. AKST (2:04 p.m. EST) and has resumed mushing on the Iditarod trail with still 15 dogs […]
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‘Moving Day’ at the Iditarod: Mandatory 24-hour rest period triggers strategy
Editor’s note: Richland Source is posting daily updates on Mansfield native Matthew Failor’s efforts at the 2024 Iditarod Sled Dog Race. Updates post daily at 8 a.m. (UPDATE: Matthew Failor reached the Ophir checkpoint Wednesday around 1:38 p.m. EST and is now resting his team, which has traveled 352 miles since Sunday afternoon. He is […]
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Mansfield native off and mushing in 2024 Iditarod Sled Dog Race in Alaska
ON THE IDITAROD TRAIL, Alaska — Mansfield native Matthew Failor is off and mushing in the 2024 Iditarod Sled Dog Race. After the traditional ceremonial start in Anchorage on Saturday, the 38 mushers in the field of “The Last Great Race” left from nearby Willow on Sunday afternoon, launching a journey of nearly 1,000 miles […]
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Ready, set mush: Mansfield native has big hopes for 2024 Iditarod race
WILLOW, ALASKA — Matthew Failor has a lot more responsibilities these days than when he mushed in his first Iditarod Sled Dog Race more than a decade ago. — Husband to Liz, whom he married in 2020. — Father to Theo, born just eight months ago. — Business owner of Alaskan Husky Adventures, which provides […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Racing to the past: Iditarod sled dog success allows Mansfield native to salute Alaskan culture
WILLOW, Alaska — Matthew Failor fell in love with native Alaskan culture during a summer internship at the Mendenhall Glacier nearly two decades ago. That love affair has continued to grow — now shared by his wife of almost three years, their soon-to-be-born first child … and 50 Alaskan Huskies. The Mansfield native recently completed his 12th Iditarod Sled Dog Race, […]