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The Great American Duck Race fills the bill at DuPage County Fair

Ready ... set ... quack.

The Great American Duck Race is returning to the DuPage County Fair with multiple shows through Sunday at the fairgrounds in Wheaton.

In an odd twist of fate, the guy who runs them is named Robert Duck. Really.

“Usually I have to show them my ID, my driver’s license,” Duck said of skeptics who can’t wrap their heads around the story of a man and his namesake sport.

He has some big-league birds in what’s billed as the only traveling duck race in the country.

“They only have one speed, and that’s fast,” Duck said.

He travels the U.S. racing ducks at county fairs and boat shows in more than 20 events a year. He’s landed on the cover of The Wall Street Journal and appeared on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson.

“Never in a thousand years did I imagine that I would do this,” Duck said. “Life just throws you some interesting curve balls, and you’ve got to make the best of what you’re given.”

One of those curve balls came when he heard about a duck race in Deming, N.M., that started as a community event in 1980. He decided to enter, and his ducks quickly dominated: earning 12 consecutive wins in the Deming race and helping Duck amass more than $50,000 in purses over the years.

In 1999, he sold his jewelry business and began entertaining crowds with a traveling exhibition.

“Everyone gets a kick out of watching the ducks race,” Duck said. “You cannot watch a duck race without smiling.”

So how in the heck do you become a star duck racer?

Duck calls it a trade secret. He holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix that he jokingly tells friends stands for “mallard and bird association.”

But he was willing to reveal a few insider tips. His border collie helps herd the ducks in each show, where kids and adults are selected to release the ducks on the water racetracks measuring 2 feet wide and 16 feet long.

He brings almost 60 birds to each race, hauling them in a trailer with extra insulation and air conditioning (to prevent, forgive us Daffy, having roasted duck). As ducklings, they complete a training schedule that lasts two to three weeks, with Duck gradually introducing them to other competitors in the water. And their wings are clipped so they can’t fly away.

“They are much more trainable than anyone thought they would be,” Duck said. “They’re pretty smart.”

At the DuPage County Fair, Duck will be the announcer with plenty of quips — “I think we’ll have our ducks in a row” — and fowls named after Olympic athletes. So expect Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte to duel it out in the pool.

In each show, there are four heats with a chance at duck-racing glory in the championship round. Both heat and championship winners receive prizes — from duck whistles to duck hats.

Duck says he’ll continue racing as long as he and his birds can.

“If you could see all the happy people at the duck races, that’s a great job to have,” he said.

Show times are set for 12:30, 3:30, 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday and 11:30 a.m., 1:30, 3:30, 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The event is free with admission to the fair at 2015 W. Manchester Road.

For details, call (630) 668-6636 or visit racingducks.com

Some of the world’s fastest-swimming ducks — who’s going to argue? — will paddle their little hearts out this week at the DuPage County Fair in Wheaton. Daily Herald file photo
There will be plenty of splashing this week when the Great American Duck Race returns to Wheaton as part of the entertainment at the DuPage County Fair. The guy who runs the race is named Robert Duck. Really. Daily Herald file photo
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