AUBURN - On Monday afternoon, 6,000 rubber ducks took their 19th voyage down the Owasco River.

Named, numbered and all colored bright yellow, the first nine ducks and the last duck to cross the finish line earned their owners prizes ranging from a trip to Las Vegas to a trip to St. Petersburg, Fla.

Three weeks ago, the Kiwanis Club of Auburn began selling $5 Duck Derby tickets and by Monday, the day of the derby, the organization had sold nearly 6,000 ducks.

In its 19th year, Ken Knight, derby organizer, said the money raised is donated to area charities that write letters asking the club for money to conduct specific projects.

Knight said this year about $25,000 will be divided among different charities.

The Auburn Kiwanis Club raises about $26,000 each year to distribute to local agencies that help people in need of a variety of services. According to their Web site, the annual Duck Derby is the organization's largest fundraiser of the year.

A blowhorn sounded the start of the race as crowds lined the fences overlooking the river near Loop Road, hoping that their duck would later be announced as a winner.

“Every year we enter,” said Mary Beth Brown, who stood watching the river with her daughter, Cassie Lee, 7. The Browns entered three ducks into the race.

They hoped one of the three ducks would win them a weekend trip for two to St. Petersburg, Fla., so they could visit their cousins.

Children owners of a duck named Venom 25 hoped theirs would float in last place so they could win the $100 cash prize.

Fans remained quiet until the first duck floated around the corner toward the bridge over Route 34, floating a wide distance from the rest of the pack.

Some ducks preferred floating in the pack while others floated off, some getting caught in rocks or caught under the river's tide.

Members of the Kiwanis club stood behind netting catching the ducks as they reached the finish lines by the hundreds.

Staff writer Kristina Martino can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kristina.martino@lee.net

Duck Derby winners

Duck 1: Disney Package for four nights and four people - Kee Murphy

Duck 2: Las Vegas for three nights for two - Mary Beth Adams

Duck 3: Nashville for three nights for two - Jeff Angus

Duck 4: St. Petersburg, Fla., weekend trip for two - John Ryan

Duck 5: Toronto for two nights for four and passes to Canada's Wonderland - Dan Swizbor

Duck 6: YMCA-WEIU one-year family health center membership - Peggy Murray

Duck 7: Niagara Falls two nights for four and passes to Marineland - Brian Hoffman

Duck 8: Auburn Players two season passes - Richard McConnell Jr.

Duck 9: Auburn Players two season passes - Quinn Hennessy

Last place duck: $100 cash - Jamie Rao