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Another historical run for this DUCK-athlete?
Scott DUCKson, who won 19 of 20 races in 2023 QUACKY-FOWL racing series, takes 2 of 4 in opening weekend
Scott DUCKson, the now famous DUCK-athlete who captured the inaugural QUACKY-FOWL racing series championship with his dominant performance in 2023, looks like he is up for the challenge of defending that dominance in 2024. DUCKson swept both races on Sunday afternoon after being blanked on Saturday. He shot ahead of challengers Denny MANDARIN and Danica DUCKtrick – both who had a victory apiece on Saturday – and looked strong and confident doing it.
“Got off to a bit of a shaky start on Saturday, but felt very strong on Sunday,” DUCKson explained to the post-race press gathering after the final race on Sunday. “Again, I just let the training take over and felt fast, furious and extremely confident going into the day. With the loud and big crowds, it really inspired me, and I didn’t want to disappoint.”
DUCKson’s historical run last season started with an undefeated first weekend (4-0), and he never looked back as he ended up winning 19 of 20 races over the 5-duck field.
“I don’t think we’ll see that kind of dominance again this season or maybe ever, but he sure looked strong on Sunday, like he gained back his momentum from 2023,” said race announcer and QUACKmaster Dennis Riley. “DUCKson is one of those ‘once-in-a-generation’ phenoms, and it would be awesome to see him do his thing again this season!”
Denny MANDARIN won the first race of the 20-race season on Saturday, but it wasn’t a smooth victory as all five DUCK-athletes took a record 5 minutes to complete the race. They kept turning around and running the opposite way of the finish line.
“Stranger things have happened over the 18 years we’ve been running these duck races,” event director Steve Templeman said. “We’ve had a duck or two turn around before, but never ALL five – that was a little different and a bit more stressful, but definitely more entertaining for the crowd.”
In Saturday’s final race, Danica DUCKtrick just barely edged MANDARIN at the finish line to capture race number two of the QUACKY-FOWL racing series (presented by Toyota of Puyallup and Goodwill).
“I think my beak got over that finish line just ahead of Denny,” DUCKtrick recalled. “It’s nice to start the opening weekend off with at least one win, but we all know the money races start next weekend. I’ll be ready to put the throttle to my waddle.”
This weekend’s big race – the DUCKtona 500 – will definitely favor DUCKson, who is experienced and will be the favorite. It’s still early though and there’ll be plenty of feathers flying to try and knock off he big quack on campus.
For the weekend, a total of $94 was raised for local nonprofit Celebrate HARVEST through the “bets” that race fans placed (in the form of a donation) on the races. A total of 181 “bets” were placed and Danica DUCKtrick had the most bets placed on her with 52. Scotty DUCKson had the second most bets with 37. Racing will resume this weekend – Saturday and Sunday at 1 and 3 pm – at Maris Farms. The featured marquee race of the weekend is the DUCKtona 500 on Saturday at 1 pm
Here are the results after the first weekend:
DUCKS | WINS | BETS PLACED |
---|---|---|
#1 – Denny MANDARIN | 1 | 31 |
#2 – “BILL” Elliott | 0 | 27 |
#3 – Scott DUCKson | 2 | 37 |
#4 – MUSCOVY Andretti | 0 | 34 |
#5 – Danica DUCKtrick | 1 | 52 |
MANDARIN makes his move, finds his groove
After winning DUCKtona 50 and 2 of 4 races for the weekend, this DUCKathlete finds himself in series lead
You could call it luck or just good old-fashioned grind-it-out competitiveness.
Whatever you call it, Denny MANDARIN – who had only one victory in the past two years in this QUACKY-FOWL Racing Series – was able to double that win total on Saturday and capture the DUCKtona 50, the first marquee of the month-long racing series presented by Toyota of Puyallup and Goodwill.
“I’ve been so close over the course of two seasons to winning, and finally got one under my feather belt on opening weekend,” MANDARIN told a packed press room full of reporters on Saturday, after the races had ended for the day. “To come in here and take both races today, including the DUCKtona, proves that all the hard work is paying off. And even if I’m not winning, I’m always in a position to at the end.”
Scott DUCKson, the now famous DUCK-athlete who captured the inaugural QUACKY-FOWL racing series championship with his dominant performance in 2023 (winning 19 of 20 races, including all three marquee races), was the favorite to take DUCKtona. But DUCKson fell flat all weekend, never collecting one victory as Danica DUCKtrick captured the early race on Sunday and “BILL” Elliott the final race Sunday afternoon.
“Just wasn’t feeling up to par and never got into any sort of groove this weekend,” DUCKson explained to the post-race press gathering on Sunday. “You can lose momentum here very quickly, so you have to stay focused. There’s still A LOT of racing left for this month-long series, plus two ore marquee races. I’ll hopefully find my groove again by next weekend. I’ll put in a great week of practice, and we’ll see how she goes.”
Like opening weekend when MANDARIN won the first race of the 20-race season, he duplicated that effort on Saturday’s opening race with a rather convincing win by several duck lengths.
“He looked strong this weekend, especially on Saturday,” event director Steve Templeman said. “Even in his losses on Sunday, he was right there nipping at Danica’s and Bill’s rear ends. He’s got his groove going.”
DUCKtrick and DUCKson are now both tied for second place in the series with 2 victories apiece and “BILL” Elliott is 3rd with 1 victory in the five DUCKathlete field. MUSCOVY Andretti is still winless.
For the weekend, a total of $274 was raised for local nonprofit Celebrate HARVEST through the “bets” that race fans placed (in the form of a donation) on the races and $368 has been raised through the first two weekends. A total of 345 “bets” were placed for the weekend (526 through two weekends) and DUCKson had the most bets placed on him with 98. MANDARIN had the second most bets placed on her with 73. Racing will resume this weekend – Saturday and Sunday at 1 and 3 pm – at Maris Farms. The featured marquee race of the weekend is the MANADARIN Grand Prix on Saturday at 1 pm.
Here are the results after the secondd weekend:
DUCKS | WINS | WEEKEND BETS | SEASON BETS |
---|---|---|---|
#1 – Denny MANDARIN | 3 | 73 | 104 |
#2 – “BILL” Elliott | 1 | 54 | 81 |
#3 – Scott DUCKson | 2 | 98 | 135 |
#4 – MUSCOVY Andretti | 0 | 62 | 96 |
#5 – Danica DUCKtrick | 2 | 58 | 110 |
MANDARIN has the momentum
DUCKathlete takes commanding series lead after winning 3 on Saturday, including MANDARIN Grand Prix
With only two weekends remaining in this QUACKY-FOWL Racing Series (sponsored by Toyota of Puyallup and Goodwill ORR), Denny MANDARIN has established himself as the odds-on favorite to win the 5-week season series after a very impressive weekend.
The portly waddler won 3 of 4 races this weekend – including the MANDARIN Grand Prix on Saturday – to sprint ahead in the season series with 6 total wins. He’s now leading last season’s series champion, Scotty DUCKson, who has 3 victories for the season.
“Feelin’ it right now,” said an exuberant MANDARIN, following his final race on Saturday afternoon. “I’m just going to keep my beak down and not pay attention to any of the QUACK-talking going on by DUCKson. He’s frustrated, and a little distracted cuz he hasn’t been able to get on track so far. I aim to keep it that way.”
Danica DUCKtrick is third in the series now with 2 wins and BILL Elliott fourth with 1 win. MUSCOVY Andretti has yet to claim a victory.
“I’m not as dialed in as I’d like to be, that’s for sure,” DUCKson told the post-race press gathering on Sunday following his lone victory of the weekend. “I’ll have focus for a race and then lose focus for the next one. But I know I’m better than these QUACKs, I just gotta put it together these last two weekends.”
Yes, with two weekends (8 races) remaining, there is still plenty of racing left to determine the season series title.
“We’ve got A LOT of racing left in front of us, and DUCKson is a savvy veteran who has been competing on this level for awhile,” event director Steve Templeman said. “If anyone gets what it takes to re-group and re-boot, its Scotty. But Denny is no slouch, and he’s proving that he’s going to give this field plenty to deal with as we head down the stretch.”
For the weekend, a total of $361 was raised for local nonprofit Celebrate HARVEST through the “bets” that race fans placed (in the form of a donation) on the races and $729 has been raised through the first three weekends. A total of 417 “bets” were placed for the weekend (943 through three weekends) and MANDARIN had the most bets placed on him with 107. Elliott had the second most bets placed on him with 91.
Racing will resume this weekend – Saturday and Sunday at 1 and 3 pm – at Maris Farms. The featured marquee race of the weekend is the QUACKyard 40 on Saturday at 1 pm.
Here are the results after the third weekend:
DUCKS | WINS | WEEKEND BETS | SEASON BETS |
---|---|---|---|
#1 – Denny MANDARIN | 6 | 107 | 211 |
#2 – “BILL” Elliott | 1 | 91 | 172 |
#3 – Scott DUCKson | 3 | 69 | 204 |
#4 – MUSCOVY Andretti | 0 | 70 | 154 |
#5 – Danica DUCKtrick | 2 | 80 | 190 |
MANDARIN in control of his own destiny
One victory this weekend will earn him a season series title, but DUCKson still has slight chance to catch him
It’s not going to be speed, athleticism or talent that determines this season’s Toyota of Puyallup QUACKY-FOWL season series champion. It’s going to be consistency.
That’s what Denny MANDARIN – who nobody was even thinking about when the series started four weeks ago – has displayed better than any of the 5-DUCKathlete field eeach and every weekend: a victory on opening weekend, two more the second weekend, then three our of four races in weekend three. Finally, after one more win this past weekend, MANDARIN has collected 7 overall and leads last season’s series champion – Scotty DUCKson – by 3 victories.
With one more victory this final weekend, MANDARIN will dethrone last season’s series champion and win his first QF season series title.
“I’ve got four chances to win one race, and with how consistent I’ve been so far, I like my odds,” MANDARIN told a post-race press gathering after Sunday’s last race. “I’m going to be pushing hard on Saturday and hopefully get that one victory I need. I’d love to cruise into the final day and enjoy myself.”
But DUCKson isn’t finished by any means. A staunch competitor – and one of this series’ top DUCKathletes of all time, DUCKson explained his mindset going into the final weekend of the season and series.
“I still hold my destiny in my own wings, just like MANDARIN does,” DUCKson said Sunday afternoon. “As far as I’m concerned, I’m planning on winning all four races this weekend. I hope that’s what Denny is shooting for as well…but if he’s not, he better watch out for the one who is. It’s not close to over in my mind.”
BILL Elliott jumped up to third spot on the leader board after winning both races on Saturday. He now has 3 for the season. Danica DUCKtrick is fourth in the series now with 2 wins and MUSCOVY Andretti has still yet to claim a victory.
“Don’t count DUCKson out, I’m sure he’s still got a few moves left in him and I know his mindset – he’s an Iron Duck,” event director Steve Templeman said. “MANDARIN is tough, but he hasn’t felt this kind of pressure. Let’s see who shines brightest when the spotlight is on these two this weekend!”
For weekend four, a total of $351 was raised for local nonprofit Celebrate HARVEST through the “bets” that race fans placed (in the form of a donation) on the races and $1,080 has been raised through these first four weekends. A total of 402 “bets” were placed for the weekend (1,345 through four weekends) and MANDARIN had the most bets placed on him with 109. DUCKson had the second most bets placed on him with 81.
Racing will resume this weekend – Saturday and Sunday at 1 and 3 pm – at Maris Farms.
Here are the results after the fourth weekend:
DUCKS | WINS | WEEKEND BETS | SEASON BETS |
---|---|---|---|
#1 – Denny MANDARIN | 7 | 109 | 320 |
#2 – “BILL” Elliott | 3 | 75 | 247 |
#3 – Scott DUCKson | 4 | 81 | 285 |
#4 – MUSCOVY Andretti | 0 | 70 | 226 |
#5 – Danica DUCKtrick | 2 | 69 | 259 |
MANDARIN takes QUACKY-FOWL Title
Consistency was the name of the game for the fast, fleet-of-foot fowl who dethroned a legend
Denny MANDARIN stayed consistent all season long – winning at least one race in each of the five weekends of racing – and was able to secure a QUACKY-FOWL series (presented by Toyota of Puyallup and Goodwill ORR) season series title with a couple of standout weekends.
Yes, the fleet-of-foot fowl dethroned a legendary champion in Scotty DUCKson – who won 19 of 20 races to claim the QF season title in 2023 – with 8 total wins (3 out of 4 races in weekend #3 and 2 out of 4 races in weekend #2). DUCKson and BILL Elliott finished tied for second with 5 wins apiece and Danica DUCKtrick was third with 2 wins. MUSCOVY Andretti went winless on the season.
“I just tried to stay as study and consistent as possible throughout the 5-week season,” MANDARIN told a post-race press gathering on Sunday afternoon. “I knew the key, especially to beating a legend like DUCKson, would be to stay consistent with at least one win per weekend and hopefully a couple wins on any given weekend. Our plan worked to perfection.”
Indeed it did with a victory on opening weekend, two more the second weekend, three of four victories in weekend three, one more win in weekend four and this final win in the last weekend.
“You don’t normally see such consistency spread out over the course of 5 weekends,” race announcer Dennis QUACKmaster Riley said. “It’s usually total dominance by one duck throughout the entire season. I don’t think we’ve ever had a champion in 13 seasons win less than 10 races…until now.”
Riley is correct. This is the first sub-10 season title winner, and the closest the season series chase has ever been. MANDARIN took care of his business in the first race of the weekend Saturday afternoon. Then BILL Elliott won the next two and DUCKson the final race of the season on Sunday afternoon.
“I thought I still might have a shot at defending my title heading into the weekend,” DUCKson said. “But I gotta hand it to ol’ Denny. He was study as they come all season long. I know I’ll have to put in some extra work this off-season in order to regain that edge. I’m sure he will to as he’ll want to defend his title.”
The ducks will rest, recover and try to avoid being eaten by Eagles now for the time being, until summer training camp in August.
For weekend five, a total of $236 was raised for local nonprofit Celebrate HARVEST through the “bets” that fans placed (in the form of a donation) on the races, and $1,316 was raised for the season. A total of 296 “bets” were placed for the weekend (1,641 for the season) and MANDARIN had the most bets placed on him with 80. BILL Elliott had the second most bets placed on him with 66.
Here are the results after the final weekend:
DUCKS | WINS | WEEKEND BETS | SEASON BETS |
---|---|---|---|
#1 – Denny MANDARIN | 8 | 80 | 500 |
#2 – “BILL” Elliott | 5 | 66 | 313 |
#3 – Scott DUCKson | 5 | 50 | 335 |
#4 – MUSCOVY Andretti | 0 | 52 | 278 |
#5 – Danica DUCKtrick | 2 | 58 | 307 |
MANDARIN takes QUACKY-FOWL Title
Consistency was the name of the game for the fast, fleet-of-foot fowl who dethroned a legend
Denny MANDARIN stayed consistent all season long – winning at least one race in each of the five weekends of racing – and was able to secure a QUACKY-FOWL series (presented by Toyota of Puyallup and Goodwill ORR) season series title with a couple of standout weekends.
Yes, the fleet-of-foot fowl dethroned a legendary champion in Scotty DUCKson – who won 19 of 20 races to claim the QF season title in 2023 – with 8 total wins (3 out of 4 races in weekend #3 and 2 out of 4 races in weekend #2). DUCKson and BILL Elliott finished tied for second with 5 wins apiece and Danica DUCKtrick was third with 2 wins. MUSCOVY Andretti went winless on the season.
“I just tried to stay as study and consistent as possible throughout the 5-week season,” MANDARIN told a post-race press gathering on Sunday afternoon. “I knew the key, especially to beating a legend like DUCKson, would be to stay consistent with at least one win per weekend and hopefully a couple wins on any given weekend. Our plan worked to perfection.”
Indeed it did with a victory on opening weekend, two more the second weekend, three of four victories in weekend three, one more win in weekend four and this final win in the last weekend.
“You don’t normally see such consistency spread out over the course of 5 weekends,” race announcer Dennis QUACKmaster Riley said. “It’s usually total dominance by one duck throughout the entire season. I don’t think we’ve ever had a champion in 13 seasons win less than 10 races…until now.”
Riley is correct. This is the first sub-10 season title winner, and the closest the season series chase has ever been. MANDARIN took care of his business in the first race of the weekend Saturday afternoon. Then BILL Elliott won the next two and DUCKson the final race of the season on Sunday afternoon.
“I thought I still might have a shot at defending my title heading into the weekend,” DUCKson said. “But I gotta hand it to ol’ Denny. He was study as they come all season long. I know I’ll have to put in some extra work this off-season in order to regain that edge. I’m sure he will to as he’ll want to defend his title.”
The ducks will rest, recover and try to avoid being eaten by Eagles now for the time being, until summer training camp in August.
For weekend five, a total of $236 was raised for local nonprofit Celebrate HARVEST through the “bets” that fans placed (in the form of a donation) on the races, and $1,316 was raised for the season. A total of 296 “bets” were placed for the weekend (1,641 for the season) and MANDARIN had the most bets placed on him with 80. BILL Elliott had the second most bets placed on him with 66.
Here are the results after the final weekend:
DUCKS | WINS | WEEKEND BETS | SEASON BETS |
---|---|---|---|
#1 – Denny MANDARIN | 8 | 80 | 500 |
#2 – “BILL” Elliott | 5 | 66 | 313 |
#3 – Scott DUCKson | 5 | 50 | 335 |
#4 – MUSCOVY Andretti | 0 | 52 | 278 |
#5 – Danica DUCKtrick | 2 | 58 | 307 |

Shout out to our 2024 Celebrate HARVEST fall sponsors @ Maris Farms:
◦ Blazing Bagels (pig races)
◦ Bootleggers Bar & Groll (pig/duck races)
◦ Gillihan Farms (pig races)
◦ Glow Martini Lounge (pig/duck races)
◦ Goodwill ORR (2023 QUACKY race series)
◦ Honeycomb Raw Honey (2024 Triple PIG Crown series)
◦ Jennings Equipment (cow train)
◦ OG Concepts (pig races)
◦ Salish Lodge (pig races)
◦ Skulpt (pig races)
◦ Umpqua Bank (duck races)
◦ Wally’s White River Drive In (pig/duck races)
◦ Westside Pizza (pig/duck races)
◦ Washington Athletic Club (pig races)
We appreciate all your support. #goDOfarms!”
HOW THE DUCK RACES WORK:
This special event race is patterned after the famed Iron Man Triathlon, where competitors (human, that is) challenge one another over a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 2.2-mile marathon along the Kona (hawaii) coast each October. However, instead of 1800 human racing machines, Maris Farms will serve up a half dozen of the finest tri-QUACK-aletes in Pierce County, and they’ll cover a grand total of 200 feet! The ducks start at one end of an old cow feeder by swimming 100 feet one direction, then climbing a ramp to a platform built over the swim pond and “running/fluttering” back to where they started. First one back is the winner. In all, there are 20 races during the season. The duck with the most victories over that period is crowned Iron ‘DUCK’ World Champion.
The month-long event helps raise money for the Fisher House by allowing people to place bets on who they believe will win each race. Those bets are given in the form of a donation the Fisher House. To date, the event has raised more than $3,600 for the Fisher House and Wounded Warrior Project since starting in 2013. Money raised now goes toward nonprofit Celebrate HARVEST, whose mission it is to preserve the family farm for present-day and future farmers through helping promote and financially support experiential farming, aka agritainment to them.
Each “betting” participant receives a special duck bill. They also receive a numbered raffle ticket – they keep half and put the other half in the betting slot of their “predicted” winner. At the end of the race, the announcer will draw a name from the “winning” duck’s slot, and that individual will win a prize from one of our sponsors.
Dates of the races: Oct. 1/2, Oct. 8/9, Oct. 15/16, Oct. 22/23 and Oct. 29/30 (weather permitting); Time: 1 pm and 3 pm each weekend day; Price: included with farm admission.
Celebrate HARVEST: a vehicle that’ll help farmers reimagine farming Celebrate HARVEST is simply a vehicle for helping farms travel from where they currently find themselves toward a more non-traditional, profitable and sustainable method of farming – experiential farming or agritainment/agritourism. This allows the farmer to become a price-maker versus a price-taker in the market place by offering memory-making experiences versus a commodity product.