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Duck races make a splash at fair

Jordan Beck | Daily Press “Chief Quacker” for the Great American Duck Race Robert Duck, left, signals the start of another race at the U.P. State Fair as volunteers release their ducks. The races are held four times each day outside the fair’s grandstand.

ESCANABA — Visitors to the U.P. State Fair have been flocking to a new addition to the week-long event — the Great American Duck Race. These races take place four times each day outside the fair’s grandstand.

“Chief Quacker” for the Great American Duck Race Robert Duck (his real name) said 2017 marked his first visit to the U.P. State Fair.

“We love the U.P. — it is beautiful up here,” he said.

Duck said that his racers — a group of more than 40 mallards — have enjoyed their time in the Upper Peninsula, as well.

“They are loving the cool weather,” he said.

Every Great American Duck Race begins with four qualifying heats, in which ducks swim from one end of a pool to the other. During these heats, four volunteers are selected from the audience and given a duck to release at the beginning of the race. Each heat features a different theme, with participating ducks given names inspired by topics such as “Duck Dynasty” and NASCAR.

Once winners have been determined in each of these heats, the finalists face off in one last race. Duck said that, for this race, participants are given the freedom to name their own ducks.

“That’s always a hoot,” he said.

According to Duck, the story of the Great American Duck Race began with a duck race held in Deming, N.M., in 1980.

“I thought that it would be funny to enter my two pet ducks,” he said. However, Duck’s ducks ended up winning the race — and 11 other duck races held in Deming.

The combination of Duck’s success and his last name attracted a great deal of attention from newspapers, magazines, and television shows.

“It caused a media explosion,” Duck said. He was featured on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” in People Magazine, and in the Wall Street Journal.

Eventually, Duck decided to take duck racing on the road.

“My wife and I started full-time doing fair circuits in 1999,” he said.

Duck said he is glad to give fairgoers an opportunity to enjoy these unique races.

“You can’t watch a duck race without smiling,” he said.

For more information on the Great American Duck Race, visit racingducks.com.

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