Yukon Quest dog died of stomach hemorrhage

A dog on the team of a French musher racing in the Yukon Questdied of a stomach hemorrhage, according to preliminary results of a post-mortem exam.

In a statement issued Thursday, Yukon Quest officials say the race's head veterinarian Cristina Hansengot a callat about 3 p.m. Wednesdayfrom the Carmacks checkpointthat Polar, a dog onSbastienDos Santos Borges' team, had died.

Dos Santos Borges scratched from the race at Carmacks.

This wasDos SantosBorges's first time running the Yukon Quest. On the race's website, he said the greater part of his dogs are from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Officials say preliminary results of the necropsy showed the dog had died of an acute gastric hemorrhage. They say the dog was otherwise in excellent condition and appeared well cared for, and that there were no signs of mistreatment.

The final results of the necropsy are expected to be available toDos SantosBorgesin the next two weeks.