All Categories - Great American Duck Race

2022 Vendors & Sponsor Information

4/28/2022

Hello Fellow Quackers!

We are just as excited as you are to be back in 2022!

Vendor Applications are now open - click here to visit our page to reserve your spot today.

Sponsorship Agreement are now available - click here to visit our page to become a sponsor today.

Thank you,
Great American Duck Race Board

43rd Annual Great American Duck Race premiers 2022 Theme and official Logo

4/14/2022

The Great American Duck Race is back again and we hope you are as excited as we are in celebrating 43 years of community. “Racing to save the day!!” is already racing through our local community and the official logo is kicked off with excitement and collaboration with many events that will share the “local hero” theme in 2022.

This year’s logo was designed by Jerran Duty and features a small representation of all of the amazing local heroes who step up and save the day for our community every day. After two very difficult years, we want to come together and thank each hero in our community by dedicating the 43rd Annual Great American Duck Race to them.

The theme and logo will be seen throughout this year’s festivities, and will be used for judging the Duck Royalty Pageant and the Tournament of Ducks Parade that take place during the weekend’s events.

The 43rd Annual Great American Duck Race will be held August 25th - 28th, 2022 at Courthouse Park in Deming, NM.

For more information on vendors applications (including our new local hobbyist), activities, and events, please visit our website: www.demingduckrace.com or call 575-567-3905.

Click here to download the full press release.

GADR 2021 Update

5/13/2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 13, 2021
Contact: Joanna Costilla
(575) 543-8530
demingduckrace@gmail.com

Fellow Quackers,

The Duck Races have been the trademark of Deming for over four decades and draw huge crowds from all over New Mexico and our neighboring states for a weekend of fun, food, and fast ducks.

It is with heavy hearts that we are announcing the cancellation of the 2021 Great American Duck Races. As there are still so many uncertain restrictions of mass gatherings, we reached the conclusion that we must cancel this year’s races to keep our community and region safe. The decision is a difficult one and is made with all of you, your safety, and your health – in mind.

We look forward to continue bringing this trademark event to our community, region, and state when it is safe to do so. The 2022 races are planned to be held August 25-28, 2022!

We are as heartbroken as you are but look forward to having an even better event in 2022! We would like to thank you for your continued support of our event and allowing us to continue this tradition for 40 years!

Sincerely,
Joanna Costilla, Chief Quacker
Great American Duck Race Committee

Click here to download THE Press Release

Our 2020 Logo Winner is...

3/4/2020

The Great American Duck Race is right around the corner and this year we are “Puttin’ on the Ritz - Flapping to Victory” for the 2020 theme and the official logo is kicked off with excitement and glam!

This year’s logo winner was the work of Jerran Duty. This year’s logo features a 20’s duck in an old style car with the feathers in the smoke being left behind. Second place was taken by Keisha Dominguez with a logo that will be used at various events over the weekend.

The theme and logo will be seen throughout this year’s festivities, and will be used for the theme for judging the Duck Royalty Pageant and the Tournament of Ducks Parade that take place during the weekend’s events.

The 41st Annual Great American Duck Race will be held August 20th – 23rd, 2020 at Courthouse Park in Deming, NM.

Additional information and details on vendors, activities and events, will be released soon via our website: www.demingduckrace.com. If you have any specific questions please call the Deming Visitor Center at 575-546-2674.

And the Winners Are...

8/26/2019

Each of the winners of the Great American Duck Race won $1,420 for the 2019 Duck Races!

Dry Track - Lucia Cervantes (pictured on the left) from El Paso, TX
Wet Track - Nicole Jasso (pictured on the right) from Deming, NM

40th Annual Great American Duck Race premiers 2019 Theme and official Logo

4/1/2019

“Racing through the Stars” is already racing through the internet space as the 2019 theme and official logo is kicked off with excitement and collaboration with many events that share the “space” theme in 2019.

This year’s theme was the work of Jerran Duty. This year’s logo features a space duck blasting through the galaxy and racing through the stars.

The theme and logo will be seen throughout this year’s festivities, and will be used for the theme for judging the Duck Royalty Pageant and the Tournament of Ducks Parade that take place during the weekend’s events.

The 40th Annual Great American Duck Race will be held August 22nd -25th, 2019 at Courthouse Park in Deming, NM.

For more information on vendors, activities and events, please go our website: www.demingduckrace.com or contact the Deming Visitor Center 575-567-1962.

Duck Royalty Pageant to Kickoff Duck Race Weekend

8/16/2017

DEMING – The Great American Duck Royalty Pageant is not your typical beauty pageant, according to pageant coordinator Amanda Mauldin-Barnes. “It’s more of a community show that showcases some very talented and creative people,” she said. “People want to come out and see how creative the costumes and skits are each year.”

The pageant is the signature kick-off event for the 38th annual Great American Duck Race weekend, Aug. 24-27 in Deming. This year’s theme is “Race the Rails,” a tribute to the history of Deming as a “Tank Town” when the railroad came through in the late 1800s.

“I expect to see a lot of trains, whistles and engineers this year,” Mauldin-Barnes quipped.

Yoya’s Bar and Grill is the chief sponsor for the event which will get underway at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24, at the Voiers’ Pit Park amphitheater on North Country Club Road. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under.

“Everything you need to do to sign up for the pageant is online,” Mauldin-Barnes said. “You can fill out the form and upload your music. It’s free to enter and you could be a duck king or queen and win some great prizes.”

The grand prize for the GADR King/Queen is $750 cash, a one-night stay at a get-away location, GADR t-shirt, a live duck race entry, a crown and flowers and $100 cash from 1st New Mexico Bank.

The runner-up in the King/Queen category will take home $500 cash.

The four remaining age divisions will also receive prize packages.

“The duck royalty pageant is open to anyone who has ever had the desire to waddle in public,” Mauldin-Barnes says.

The basis for judging will be:
• Costume – Looking for originality and duck waddle
• Talent – Create a 2- to 4-minute duck routine to impress the judges.
• Interview (for King/Queen only) – General fowl knowledge, Poise and overall ability to represent the Great American Duck Race of Deming and anything the judges may “Quack” up.

Winners and 1st runner-ups will all receive cash prizes. You can see the prize packages at www.demingduckrace.com.

“All of our contestants are invited to ride on the royalty pageant parade float on Saturday, Aug. 26,” Mauldin-Barnes said. “Our queen and/or king will also perform for the Mizkan Sponsors’ Party on Friday, Aug. 25.

Bill Armendariz can be reached at 575-546-2611 (ext. 2606) or barmendari@gannett.com.

If you go
Who: Yoya’s Bar and Grill (sponsor)
What: Great American Duck Royalty Pageant
When: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017
Where: Voiers’ Pit Park Amphitheater, North Country Club Road
Why: The crowing of royalty for the 38th annual Great American Duck Race weekend, Aug. 24-27
Age divsions: Just Hatched, 0-12 months; Li’l Waddlers, 2-4; Downey Ducklings, 5-8; Darling Ducklings, 9-12; Queen and/or King, 13 and up
Register: Online at www.demingduckrace.com
Admission: Adults, $5; children 12 and under, $3

Railroad Theme For Annual Duck Racing in Deming

7/26/2017

DEMING – Fans of the Great American Duck Race will get a brief history lesson when they don their commemorative T-shirts for the 38th annual edition of Deming’s claim to fame.

“Racing the Rails” is the theme of this year’s race and the design for this year’s highly-collectible T-shirts.

“The design is based on the history of Deming,” said Karl Bennett of Karl’s Embroidery and Screen Printing at 420 E. Spruce St. “Deming was built in parallel to the railroad coming through.”

The GADR Committee worked extensively on coming up with this year’s logo and theme, keeping in mind that the town was built along the railroad route that joined the east to the west.

In March of 1881, a silver spike was driven to commemorate the union of the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific railroads that completed the second transcontinental railroad, linking the east to the west.

Once the concept of the theme came to Bennett’s business his crew began work on the design and the finished work was approved by the Committee.

“We have done so many different themes that it will at some point come full circle,” Bennett said.

A social media survey was circulated on what duck race fans wanted in terms of the color of shirts the logo would be printed on. The final tally called for charcoal, blue, pink and purple.

“The shirts should be ready by the end of next week and we will sell them here,” Bennett said.

The shirts will sell for $15 in any of the four colors and sizes will range from youth x-small to adult 3xl.
This year Bennett has added the popular razorback tank tops for women in all four colors. They will sell for $15 also.

“It’s always a challenge, but we will meet it,” Bennett said. “We plan to print in the neighborhood of 800 shirts. It’s a little down this year, but the committee would rather sell out instead of carry over into next year.”

A special batch of shirts will be printed for three different entities of the 38th annual duck race. “We went with a denim blue for the sponsors, a charcoal for the staff and the hot-air balloons will get a lime green,” said committee member Kristy Garay.

The Great American Duck Race is scheduled for August 24-27. The events will open on Thursday, Aug. 24, with the Mizkan Duck Royalty Pageant at 6:30 p.m. at the Voiers’ Park amphitheater. A king of queen will be crowned to reign over duck race weekend.

On Friday, Aug. 25, The Mizkan Sponsor Party will begin at 4 p.m. at the Deming Elks Lodge, 3401 Raymond Reed Blvd.

Saturday, Aug. 26 will feature a full slate of activities for duck race fans. The day will include horseshoe pitching, slow-pitch softball, live entertainment, the Solitaire Homes Hot-Air Balloon mass ascension (weather permitting), Desert Classic Car Show, carnival and the ever-popular Duck Mart (vendors).

The PNM Tournament of Ducks parade will begin at 10 a.m. followed by the first day of live duck racing on wet and dry tracks. Race a duck for $5 and have a shot at making it to Sunday’s finals and a shot at the prize money purse. The racing begins at noon.

Also on Saturday, fans can expect the Amigo’s Great American Tortilla Toss and the Great American Outhouse Race sprinkled around the St. Clair Beer and Wine Garden, the First Financial Credit Union and the First United Methodist Church Barbecue.

Sunday’s highlights will be begin with more hot-air balloons, slow-pitch softball, a washers tournament and the highly-anticipated duck race finals on wet and dry track.

Bill Armendariz can be reached at 575-546-2611 (ext. 2606) or biarmendariz@demingheadlight.com.

A Weekend of Duck Racing

8/28/2016

DEMING - Early Saturday morning hot air balloons filled the Deming sky to kick off the 37th annual Great American Duck Race weekend. The festival brings in people from all around the southwest to for the live duck races that are run on wet and dry tracks. Races which began in 1980 as a small, fun event for the community.

The GADR officially began Thursday with the crowning of Chanel Vasquez as Duck Queen. The official races began at noon on Saturday at noon at McKinley Duck Downs (Luna County Courthouse Park). Festivities at the event included legendary competitions such as the Great American Horseshoe Tournament, The Great American Tortilla Toss, Tournament of Ducks parade and many others. Entertainment was the order of business with various carnival rides, live music and many types of fan favorite carnival food.

Traditionally, duck racing is performed on both wet and dry tracks and a cash prize is awarded to the fastest duck during Sunday's race final. The ducks reach that race by a process of elimination. Saturday served as preliminary heats.

Hot air balloons

“We live here in town, but we’re just starting the whole duck race festivities,” said Mike Bonenfant as the sun crept over the early morning hot air balloon ascension. “Its nice that we have something like this locally.”

Pilots from as far as Arizona joined in the Solitaire Homes Hot Air Balloon Mass Ascension – The first ascension in two years at the duck races. Poor weather conditions grounded the balloons.

Duck fans crowded the Downs after 10 a.m., many gathered in anticipation for the Great American Tortilla Toss sponsored by Deming MainStreet Program and Amigo’s Mexican Foods. Special tortillas were made for contestants of all ages to hurl for the farthest distance. Winners received cash prizes and bragging rights until next year’s toss.

“It sounded like something fun to do,” said John Lowther of Tuscon, AZ. “People have been great, food has been wonderful – the duck races were a blast and we enjoyed the toss. Why not throw a tortilla?”

Lowther is a first-time duck race visitor and said he plans to bring members of his family next year to have them share the duck racing experience.

Winners of the toss include Lloyd Valentine in six and under division, Sebastian Lescombs in the seven to 12 co-ed division, Freya Delgadillo in the 13-16 co-ed division, Yadira Macias and David Beasley won in the adult categories and Gilbert Estrada took first in the 55 plus division. Beasley was the returning champion of last year’s toss and remains to defend his title until next year.

Parade

The PNM Tournament of Ducks Parade presented by the Deming-Luna County Chamber of Commerce drew more than 100 entries and took the city by storm with an hour-long procession through the streets of downtown Deming.

Mimbres Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home stole the show with their first-place float.
Second place went to annual favorite Solitaire Homes.
Deming Orthodontics walked off with a bright smile in third place.

All three winners were local businesses.

Horseshoes

Twenty-five teams jumped at the chance to pitch horseshoes Saturday at McKinley Duck Downs for a chance at prize money. Teams of doubles partners competed in a double-elimination bracket while ducks were racing on wet and dry tracks, vendors were vending, and entertainment acts were performing and tortilla were flying.

When the last shoe hit the stake, Bob Swain and Sam Hill collected $250 for first place. Abel Flores Sr. and Abel Flores Jr. pocketed the second-place share of $150. Third place of $100 went to Frankie Morales and Bubba De La Torres.

Washers

The Washers Tournament drew a dozen doubles teams on Sunday to close out the competitions at McKinley Duck Downs.

Sonny Jaurequi teamed with Rudy Chavez to split the first-place share of $120. Jose Maldonado and Manuel Ruiz split $70 for coming in second place and Martin Ruiz and Leo Gutierrez shared $50 as the third-place team.

Sponsors are Racing to the Finish Line

7/22/2016

DEMING - Planning for the Great American Duck Race is in full swing as committee members meet to line up sponsors and volunteers for the Aug. 25-28 event.
Tuesday’s board meeting solidified some of the sponsors as well as established new rules and regulations for some of the favored events of the races. The festival is one of the Deming's major events and draws as many as 10,000 visitors for a weekend of activities.
The races hold various levels of sponsorship that are filled by different companies and individuals to support the events. They are responsible for the needed costs of operations for the races and many companies have elected to sponsor chosen events such as the Tournament of Ducks Parade, which will be backed by PNM. Additional sponsors of the event include Mizkan America, Solitaire Homes, Amigo’s Mexican Food and many others.
“With the passing of Dave Johnson, we did not have a website, we did not have a telephone and there was no access to us,” said Duck Race Treasurer Marie Pinchuk. “Now that we’ve got that operating again, it’s helping a lot.”
One of the biggest sponsors so far is Luna Energy Facility who has donated the $5,000 corporate sponsor level for the event. Sponsorship levels are ranked for both companies and individuals and Luna Energy Facility has been a prevalent sponsor of the event for some time.
Changes will be made to the Great American Washer Tournament as well as the Great American Horseshoe Pitching Tournament. As per request of Tommy Esquivel, the event chairman for the tournaments, players are encouraged to bring their own horseshoes for the event. The amount of shoes able to be provided has dramatically decreased from last year, and players must try to bring their own for this year’s event.
The Great American Washer Tournament will also see changes, as the size of the washers has been changed from 3-inch washers to 2½-inch washers for this year.
For the past 36 years, the Great American Duck Races has brought thousands of people to Deming to celebrate a lasting tradition. Events at the festival include a live water and dry duck races, The Duck Royalty Pageant, the Great American Tortilla Toss as well as the Great American Outhouse Race. Vendors of all types will also be present during the festival selling various goods.