Necropsy indicates Yukon Quest sled dog died of aspiration

The preliminary results from a necropsy done on a dog that died last week during the Yukon Quest sled dog race indicate the cause of death was aspiration.

• Dog dies on Yukon Quest trail, past champ Hugh Neff drops out of race

The news release from Quest officials also says this is "consistent with the clinical history provided by the musher," Hugh Neff.

Head veterinarian Nina Hansen said Neff told her that the five-year-old dogBoppy had vomited before hedied. She said the necropsy showed the dog had inhaled stomach contents.

Neff told officials Boppy died at Clinton Creek west of Dawson City, Yukon. It's a place on the race trail between Eagle, Alaska, and Dawson City where mushers often stop to rest.

The race marshal said last week that Neff was running a young team of dogs and Neffthought it was best for the team to withdraw.

The release says final necropsy results are expected to be released within one month after the finish of the race.

One of Neff's dogs died in the 2011 race. In 2001 he was disqualified due to the condition of his team at the Eagle checkpoint.

Neff scratched from this year's race. It was his 17thYukon Quest.