Iditarod honors for local musher Lew Freedman, Tribune staff reporter. Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Ill.: Mar 21, 2004.  pg. 17 Full Text (323   words) Copyright 2004 by the Chicago Tribune Hugh Neff never thought of himself as an Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race beginner, and maybe that's why he didn't act like it either. Neff, the Evanston-raised musher who signed up for his first try at the 1,100-mile adventure race between Anchorage and Nome, won rookie-of-the-year honors in the 32nd annual event that is the Indianapolis 500 of the sport, completing the frosty route across the barrens of Alaska in 10 days, 16 hours, 21 minutes. Neff, 36, who now lives in Nenana, Alaska, won $9,000 for placing 22nd in the 87-team field, plus a bonus of $1,500 and a trophy for placing the best among rookies. Dennis Kananowicz, who is originally from Evergreen Park and now lives in Copper Center, Alaska, and was also a rookie, finished 29th in 10 days, 23 hours, 4 minutes. He won $2,100 in prize money. Neff was hardly the average rookie. He has completed the 1,000- mile Yukon Quest, the world's second-most prestigious dog race, between Canada and Fairbanks three times. Neff encountered high winds and frigid temperatures, but few problems until about 50 miles from Nome in the infamously windy Topkok Hills. "I had to walk the dogs through the Topkok Hills for three miles," Neff said. Neff said he had done so much research through videos and books that the Iditarod Trail--which is a National Historic Trail--did not seem new to him. At different times he traveled with accomplished Iditarod veterans such as Tim Osmar, DeeDee Jonrowe and Vern Halter, all of whom have placed in the top five. Neff reached as high as 12th in the standings at one point. "I wasn't in awe," Neff said. "It's about what I expected." Neff has even bigger plans for next winter. His goal is to complete a rare and demanding double--finish the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod in the same season. "I want to do both," Neff said. "It's just something I want to do."