Holmes had a three-hour lead over his closest competitor, Matt Hall, who said he had stopped trying to catch up.

Former reality TV star Jessie Holmes won the 53rd Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Friday, March 14, ending a run that was as commanding as the race was long.

The veteran musher has maintained a consistent lead over Matt Hall and Paige Drobny for much of the past week.

The Interior Alaska musher won his first Iditarod on his eighth try, arriving in Nome with his dog team early Friday.

It’s been an amazing 10 days and I soaked up every part of it,” Holmes said in an interview with Iditarod Insider minutes after finishing. Holmes mused on all the Iditarod