Lead Creek Derby winners announced
The crowd packs the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes during the 2026 Lead Creek Derby.
Courtesy photo
WALLACE — The 2026 Lead Creek Derby lived up to its reputation for unpredictability as the iconic Gyro Ball made its journey from Mullan to Wallace in 5 hours, 9 minutes and 13 seconds, one of the longer times seen in recent years. Organizers noted that factors such as water levels, wind and vegetation along the riverbanks can significantly impact the ball's travel time.
The Lead Creek Derby is the signature event of Wallace's annual Gyro Days celebration. In the weeks leading up to the race, supporters purchase derby tickets, each assigned a computer-generated time predicting how long it will take the Gyro Ball to travel from Mullan's Last Chance Bridge to Wallace's Sixth Street Bridge. The ticket with the assigned time closest to the official finish time wins the grand prize, with additional prizes awarded to the next-closest ticket holders.
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