Iditarod chief vet dies after 38 years with Last Great Race

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - The head veterinarian of the Iditarod, Dr. Stuart Nelson, died earlier this week in Idaho, according to race officials. Nelson was 71.

In a statement from the Iditarod Trail Committee, spokesperson Shannon Noonan said Nelson had been part of the race for 38 years, saying he “will be missed tremendously.”

Nelson proved to be a guiding force to the wellbeing of thousands of sled dogs that ran the race over the years.

In a short profile done on him in 2019, Nelson said what he enjoyed most about the race that has been run since 1973 is the combination of “the people, the dogs, the land. It’s Iditarod.”

“Our heartfelt condolences go out to his partner, Karen McNaught, her daughter, Isabel, partner of musher, Riley Dyche, and all of Stu’s family, friends, loved ones and those in both the Veterinarian and Iditarod communities,” Iditarod officials wrote in a statement. “At this time, no other information is available. With regard to funeral or memorial service, updates will be provided as they become available.”

Nelson worked his way up to the Last Great Race starting at the University of Missouri School of Veterinary Medicine, where his father served as a faculty veterinarian.

Iditarod race director Mark Nordman, who knew Nelson well, called his passing a “huge loss to our whole community.”

“I’d never met such an honest, heartfelt man in my whole life,” Nordman said. “He really believed in what we do, and the dogs were always his priority, of course, along with his veterinary staff ... I’m kind of at a loss for words.”

Another Iditarod name who knew Nelson well is Deedee Jonrowe, a 32-time Iditarod race finisher who racked up 16 top-10 finishes between 1980 to 2017.

Jonrowe said Nelson “took the race into the next level of professionalism” when he became a paid staff member of the Iditarod veterinarian team that travels on the trail and when he traveled around the country representing the sport and advocating for research projects.

“I personally am very grateful for the interest that Stu took, because it was way beyond the ... couple of months during racing season,” Jonrowe said.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new information.

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