Deming Duck Race pays homage to railroad past
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 in Deming. “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 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.
The 38th annual Great American Duck Race is scheduled for Aug. 24-27. The events will open Thursday, Aug. 24, with the Mizkan Duck Royalty Pageant at 6:30 p.m. at the Voiers’ Park amphitheater. A king or 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 begin with more hot-air balloons, slowpitch softball, a washers tournament and the highlyanticipated duck race finals on wet and dry
track.