<P> The Norwegian Gunnar Kaasen and his lead dog Balto arrived on Front Street in Nome on February 2 at 5: 30 a.m., just five and a half days later . The two became media celebrities, and a statue of Balto was erected in Central Park in New York City in 1925, where it has become one of the most popular tourist attractions . However, most mushers consider Leonhard Seppala and his lead dog Togo to be the true heroes of the run . Together they covered the most hazardous stretch of the route, and carried the serum 91 miles, the single farthest of any team . </P> <P> In 1964 the Wasilla - Knik Centennial Committee was created to honor the 100th anniversary of Alaska's induction into the United States of America from Russia . Dorothy G. Page, the chairmen of the committee, had the original idea to race a portion of the Iditarod Trail . Joe Redington Sr. (named the "Father of the Iditarod" by one of the local newspapers), and his wife Vi were Page's first true support and, with volunteer support they cleared up a portion of the trail . The first race, known as the Iditarod Trail Seppala Memorial Race in honor of Leonhard Seppala, was held in 1967 . The purse of US $25,000 attracted a field of 58 racers, and the winner was Isaac Okleasik . The next race, in 1968, was canceled for lack of snow, and 1969's small $1,000 purse only drew in 12 mushers . </P> <P> Redington along with two school teachers, Gleo Huyck and Tom Johnson, was the impetus behind extending the race more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) along the historic route to Nome . The three co-founders of the race started in October 1972 to plan the now famous race . A major fundraising campaign which raised a purse of $51,000 was also started at the same time . This race was the first true Iditarod Race and was held in 1973, and attracted a field of 34 mushers, 22 of whom completed the race . Dorothy Page had nothing to do with the 1973 race, stating that she "washes her hands of the event". The event was a success; even though the purse dropped in the 1974 race, the popularity caused the field of mushers to rise to 44, and corporate sponsorship in 1975 put the race on secure financial footing . Despite the loss of sponsors during a dog abuse scandal in 1976, the Iditarod caused a resurgence of recreational mushing in the 1970s, and has continued to grow until it is now the largest sporting event in the state . The race was originally patterned after the All Alaska Sweepstakes races held early in the 20th century . </P> <P> The main route of the Iditarod trail extends 938 miles (1,510 km) from Seward in the south to Nome in the northwest, and was first surveyed by Walter Goodwin in 1908, and then cleared and marked by the Alaska Road Commission in 1911 and 1912 . The entire network of branching paths covers a total of 2,450 miles (3,940 km). Except for the start in Anchorage, the modern race follows parts of the historic trail . </P>

When did the first iditarod race take place