The Great American Duck Race

Deming, NM

(The Home of Clean Water and Fast Ducks)
During the last weekend in August, people from all over the state come to Deming, New Mexico, and try their luck racing a duck in the Great American Duck Race. Truly a small town event, they offer the Crowning of the Duck Queen, a carnival for the kids, the Duck Dance at the Hat Creek Saloon, a hot air balloon festival, the Tournament of Ducks Parade, horseshoe contests, a chili cookoff, outhouse races, and a concert by Shenandoah. And of course, the main event, the first duck race of the new millennium at "Deming Downs"

The Tournament Of Ducks Parade

Click the thumbnail for a full size picture

HeHeHe....Told you is was a small town parade. Here's a front line fire truck from the DFD, and an entry from the Border Patrol. Next to the current Border Patrol, is what the Border Patrol SHOULD be here in the Southwest!

Ahhhh...The stagecoach...a vital part of the southwest. It seems as though it is still in service to bring our mail to us. And see the people on horseback? You guessed it...Overnight Express!!!!

Before we look at our experience, lets take a look at a previous winner......

From the Las Cruces Sun News 1981-----
Go, Litnin!! Everybody and his dog can be a coach when it comes to preparing for Deming's Second Annual Great American Duck Race. Among the 500 or so entrants expected this year will be "Gresd Litnin" of Las Cruces.

And Now, The Main Event

Here's a picture of the field of ducks that was used. Today, you must use one of the randomly pick racers. No more can you train your own duck.

So now that it's an even field, here's one of me and my duck. I took a second place and it got me to the finals for the next day. So we rode all the way to Deming again, but this time, my duck got his wing caught, and came in last.

Here is a running of one of the heats for the kids. On the semifinal day, there were 17 heats for them alone. The next is the "duck run" that they were all put in to race.

Click the logo to return