By Linda Jones
Becky and Ken Lloyd celebrate their duck race win with a $1,000 check after the Peak to Creek Duck Race July 24. Photo Courtesy of Weekly Central City Register Call.
The crowd of Peak to Creek Duck Race watchers applauded when it was announced that Black Hawk policeman Ken Lloyd’s adopted duck won the $1,000 Grand Prize. The Black Hawk City Council at their July 14 meeting had awarded Ken the Medal of Valor for his bravery in confronting the armed man who robbed the Famous Bonanza Casino in April. Although the suspect attempted to chamber a round when he pointed his gun at Sgt. Lloyd, his gun did not fire and the officer was able to fire and wound the suspect, leading to his arrest. Many of the crowd on the Mardi Gras patio had just read the story about the award in the local newspaper and felt that this twist of fate was well deserved.
The Isle Casino Hotel fleet was modeled after the King Tut Exhibit at the Denver Art Museum & also featured a Find Waldo puzzle that entertained the crowd. Photos by Linda Jones
The weather was perfect for the annual running of the ducks in North Clear Creek on July 24. Music was provided by the Swine Flu band and the number of ducks adopted for this year’s race was a record high. The coveted Best Dressed Fleet trophy will proudly be displayed in Century Casino until the 2011 duck race, along with their winning fleet of ducks. Voting this year was spread out among the five fleets (the Riviera Casino did not finish decorating their ducks by deadline day), proving it was a hard decision for the 132 voters.
The Century Casino fleet included employees in official uniform, a pixie and other imaginative characters that garnered them the honor of Best Dressed Fleet.
The Quack trophy will be displayed in the Mardi Gras Casino and the First Place trophy was again captured for the Colorado Gambler. (The Gambler ducks seem to have an uncanny ability to swim faster in North Clear Creek.) All trophies will have to float first to the engraver’s shop.
Peak to Peak Rotary again wants to express their great appreciation to the Mardi Gras Casino for offering the use of their patio and to the generous casinos and newspaper that sponsored the race that included Century Casino, Colorado Gambler, Golden Mardi Gras Casino, Isle Casino Hotel, Johnny Z’s Casino and the Riviera Casino.
