Hans Gatt claims victory in Yukon Quest

Musher Hans Gatt of Whitehorse shattered the recordfor the fastest Yukon Quest as heclaimed his fourth race victory on Monday.

Hatt's dog team crossed the finish line in Whitehorse at1:35p.m. local time. His finishing time ofnine days and26 minutes cut 23 hoursoff the previous record setby Sebastian Schneulle in the 2009 race.

Gatt claimed the lead in the race early Monday when he was the first musher out of the Braeburn Lodge checkpointfollowing his mandatory eight-hour layover. He completed the final leg of the race to Whitehorse with his nine remaining dogsin 11 hours, 16 minutes.

Lance Mackey of Fairbanks, Alaska, took second place, arriving at 2:38 p.m., followed by Hugh Neff of Annie Lake, Yukon, at 4:18 p.m.in third. The times set by each of the top three teams handily beat the previous records.

Gatt, 51, won three consecutive Quests from2002 to 2004, and he joinsMackey as the only other four-time winner of the race. Mackey won every race between 2005 and 2008.