Dogs are dropped for several reasons. Mostly it is for race strategy. The early phases of the race have more hills so a larger team is needed. The last half of the race is flatter so a smaller team makes sense.
Occasionally a dog falls ill and is dropped. Sometimes they drop females because they go in heat and distract the males.
When they get dropped, they are flown back to Anchorage where each musher has a dog handler waiting to take care of the dog.
Sorry but I'm not buying your acceptance of this race. Because the females are in season is only a small reason they're dropped. The rest are dropped due to injuries and exhaustion............
There is no race strategy involved in dropping a dog unless it is medically necessary...
No it doesn't make sense because the smaller team is now tasked with pulling the same heavy load and making up in energy expended for the dogs that were dropped......
The race is now under scrutiny by animal rights groups, as well they should be, and is offering up any excuse they can come up with to legitimize the race at the expense of the dogs.........
Sorry Cyclotic but there is no way you or anyone else can convince me that the Iditarod is a worthwhile, 1000 mile and two week race that only the residents of Alaska are interested in.......At the expense of the dogs..........