Marsha Smith

If you think the valley’s been invaded by ducks due to the continuous quacking; relax, it is only 1,000 rubber ducks undergoing strenuous training for this Saturday, Aug. 28, 23rd annual Rubber Duck Races.

Sadly to say, after last year’s race, our racing ducks declared they were just plain worn out – they were retiring after paddling their little hearts out for the past 22 years. This year those retirees will be looking to be adopted by diehard duck enthusiasts, serving as prizes for the games and available for purchase for those who might want a souvenir.

“Grouch” wearing her favorite duck hat, never misses a duck race.

We knew this day would eventually come, so Head-Quack Ron Smith along with his Co-Quack, yours truly, have been searching far and wide for recruits. Head-Quack Smith interviewed and put many ‘wanna be’ racers from across the United States to the test, but none proved worthy. They couldn’t float upright, couldn’t swim, and all were blatantly marked, “Made in China.”

Finally, after Smith broadened his scouting range, a little Australian duck asked to take a “quack” at it. Low and behold, not only could he float upright and swim fast, he said he had a whole team just like him waiting to sign on! So for the past few weeks the new team has been learning the course and getting the feel of the river for Saturday’s event. The training has been rigorous, but the little Aussies are making themselves comfortable in their new home. Of course, they will all become citizens and maybe in time even lose the accent.

The Kern Valley Exchange Club sponsors the event, with the proceeds going to the organization’s local scholarship program and other youth-based activities. The event is a fun filled day in Riverside Park in Kernville with lots of activities for kids. Folks come from all over to spend the day in the park and watch the races. To many, duck racing is seriously fun as attested by the cheering crowd lining the shore at the finish line. One such fan is Fran Manbeck, a fun lady who insists on being referred to only as “Grouch”. Grouch has never missed a rubber duck race and is always first to secure her duck tickets. She’s never won the main event but has claimed a few heat races and an Odd Duck race or two. Last year her duck placed in its heat, and then came in last in the main event which gave her another $100 for being the “Last Place’ duck.

The crew starts setting up at 7:30 am and by 10:00 am the park is filling with duck racing enthusiasts, sometime even much earlier. Folks set up picnic areas, bringing lawn chairs and even shade covers.

Barbecue lunch is served from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Races start at 1:00 pm. There will be ten, possibly eleven, heat races this year, depending on demand. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place heat race winners receive $75, $50, and $25 respectively and those winners will go on to the main event vying for a payout of $1,000, $500 and $250. In the case of an 11th heat the main event prize will increase to $1,100, $550 and $275. Coming in last in each heat might prove lucrative this year as well as the last place duck in each heat race will be entered into the “Losers” race that will pay $200 to the winning “loser”. Also new last year is the “Last Place Duck” consolation prize of $100 for the last duck in the main event to cross the finish line, as was claimed by Grouch.

Ducks for the heat races are $25 each or a family of five for $100 and each duck ticket include two barbecue lunches. The Odd Duck (celebrity duck) races are still a favorite and will run again this year. Odd ducks (only 13 ducks per race) are $100 each and the racer gets to keep their duck.

Kids will be busy all day long with free face painting and free bounce houses. All the other fun things for kids are all just $1each including the dunk tank, a duck toss, duck pond, sponge toss, plus yummy snow cones, cotton candy, sodas, pop corn and hot dogs.

A drawing for a iPad and a $500 gas card will be held race day (first ticket drawn to get choice of iPad or gas, second ticket receives the remaining prize) along with drawings for door prizes drawn from the registered duck ticket stubs and prizes for the kids drawn from tickets deposited at the duck pond, duck toss and sponge toss games. The river is running high and fast this year so always please remember life jackets and water safety to insure everyone, especially the kids, enjoy a fun filled day in the park. Hope to see you all out for the races helping to support the future of our valley’s youth. A few tickets are still available at the Kern Valley Sun office for the first ten heat races. Tickets may be available race day for the possible 11th heat race. For information call Ron Smith at 376-4790 or Marsha Smith 379-7785.