(Above) Thousands of rubber ducks rain from the Columbus Drive Bridge into the Chicago River on Thursday. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District boat at right is set to move in and with a water cannon help the ducks waddle downstream. (Photo by chicagoloopbridges.com. Click on images to view larger versions.)

August 8, 2014 – Racing rubber ducks attracted thousands to the Chicago River on Thursday and raised more than $300,000 to help disabled athletes in Illinois train and compete.

It was the ninth “Windy City Rubber Ducky Derby,” an annual event in which thousands of toy ducks are dumped into the river and moved along a course that narrows the field to just a few.

Of 60,000 ducks racing this year, 53,530 were sponsored, a seven percent increase from last year, according to Alexandra McMillin, Manager of Communications for Special Olympics Illinois.

At 1 p.m., the north leaf of the Columbus Drive Bridge was partially raised and a truck gingerly backed up to the edge of the south leaf. Its rear door was raised and a fury of bright yellow toy tucks rained down into the Chicago River. The current, encouraged by a water cannon on the bow of a Metropolitan Water Reclamation District boat, propelled the ducks down a large orange scoop that narrowed until a wrangler on a waiting boat could pick up winners.

Each sponsor paid a $5 donation for a chance to win prizes that included a 2014 Chevrolet Equinox and a vacation to Cancun, Mexico.

(Above) As thousands of people watch from both sides of the river, seen here near Gleacher Center, boats line the path of 60,000 rubber ducks scooting down an orange scoop toward a boat, from which the winner will be plucked. (Photo by Steven Dahlman.)