Community Corner

Banana Derby A Huge Draw At Lake County Fair

Monkeys riding dogs around a track? Sure, why not? It is a hot new act at the Lake County Fair.

Gilligan, a 13-year-old cinnamon Capuchin monkey, was a fierce competitor in the Banana Derby on Tuesday, riding around the track on the back of a dog.

After the race, Gilligan was a good sport, shaking hands and posing for pictures with adoring young fans. The new Banana Derby at the Lake County Fair included three monkeys, four dogs and an enthusiastic crowd. Parents and kids packed the area around the small track to glimpse see the unusual event.

"This event combines two of man's favorite animals — the dog and the monkey," said announcer Philip Hendricks.

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The monkeys were dressed in shiny satin jockey outfits, and rode the backs of the dogs just like jockeys on a horse. Sometimes, the monkeys grabbed the white fence around the track to get that extra competitive edge.

"These are the organ-grinder monkeys of yesteryear," Hendricks said. "The more noise you make, the more action you will receive."

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Lauren Sutich of Gurnee described the Banana Derby as entertaining. The whole family, including her husband Geoff, daughter Josselyn, 6, son Dylan, 4, and baby daughter, Marly, 1, enjoyed the event.

"It's a really fun idea," she said. "I've never seen it and never heard of it before, but we like dogs and we like monkeys."

Josselyn Sutich volunteered to be helper who encouraged the crowd to clap and yell for the monkey jockeys.

"That was funny!" she said after the race.

Other monkeys at the Banana Derby included Bobo, a 10-year-old white faced Capuchin monkey who loves to eat macaroni and cheese, especially from Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Burt, a 27-year-old black-top Capuchin monkey, who likes to play with tools.

All the dogs in the show have all been rescued from shelters. Hendricks, formerly a lawyer, said the Banana Derby is based out of South Carolina. They spend five months making the circuit of fairs around the country.

"As someone who sees more fairs that most people ever will, I can say this is one of the nicest I have been to," Hendricks said after the derby. "We really like these new fairgrounds. The infrastructure, the grandstands, the buildings, the animal barns - they are all terrific. What an incredible asset to the community!"

He added that the fans in Lake County are supportive of the Banana Derby.

"The response has been overwhelming here," Hendricks said, as the monkey jumped onto his arm.

The Banana Derby race times:

  • Wednesday - Friday, 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
  • Saturday - Sunday, 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
  • The derby is free two watch with paid admission to the Lake County Fair; pictures with the monkeys are available for purchase.


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