Great Steamboat Race
Encyclopedia
The Great Steamboat Race is an annual event, taking place the Wednesday before the first Saturday of May, three days before the Kentucky Derby
as part of the Kentucky Derby Festival
. The race was first run in 1963 and it takes place on the Ohio River
in the span that runs between Louisville, Kentucky
and Jeffersonville, Indiana
. Until 2009, the race was traditionally between the Belle of Louisville
and the Delta Queen
, although other steamboats have participated. Since 2009, the Delta Queen has been retired and the Belle of Cincinnati has taken its place in competition.
. The event pits at least two riverboats against each other in the span of the Ohio River
that runs between Louisville, Kentucky
and Jeffersonville, Indiana
. Spectators can watch the event from the shore or aboard a competing vessel.
, where they turned around to return to the bridge. The distance is 14 miles, with boats averaging a speed of 7 miles per hour (3.1 m/s). The competitors were traditionally the Belle of Louisville and the Delta Queen, although other additional or substitutionary vessels occasionally competed. The annual winner received the Golden Antlers, which would remain with the winner until the next race.
Popular viewing areas for the race are the old Water Tower
in Louisville, and along Utica Pike in Jeffersonville
, especially near Duffy's Landing.
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
as part of the Kentucky Derby Festival
Kentucky Derby Festival
The Kentucky Derby Festival is an annual festival held in Louisville, Kentucky during the two weeks preceding the first Saturday in May, the day of the Kentucky Derby...
. The race was first run in 1963 and it takes place on the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
in the span that runs between Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
and Jeffersonville, Indiana
Jeffersonville, Indiana
Jeffersonville is a city in Clark County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. Locally, the city is often referred to by the abbreviated name Jeff. It is directly across the Ohio River to the north of Louisville, Kentucky along I-65. The population was 44,953 at the 2010 census...
. Until 2009, the race was traditionally between the Belle of Louisville
Belle of Louisville
The Belle of Louisville is a steamboat owned and operated by the city of Louisville, Kentucky and moored at its downtown wharf next to the Riverfront Plaza/Belvedere during its annual operational period...
and the Delta Queen
Delta Queen
The Delta Queen is an American sternwheel steamboat that is a U.S. National Historic Landmark. Historically, she has been used for cruising the major rivers that constitute the drainage of the Mississippi River, particularly in the American South. As of June 2009, she is docked in Chattanooga,...
, although other steamboats have participated. Since 2009, the Delta Queen has been retired and the Belle of Cincinnati has taken its place in competition.
Format
The race is scheduled annually as part of the Kentucky Derby FestivalKentucky Derby Festival
The Kentucky Derby Festival is an annual festival held in Louisville, Kentucky during the two weeks preceding the first Saturday in May, the day of the Kentucky Derby...
. The event pits at least two riverboats against each other in the span of the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
that runs between Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
and Jeffersonville, Indiana
Jeffersonville, Indiana
Jeffersonville is a city in Clark County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. Locally, the city is often referred to by the abbreviated name Jeff. It is directly across the Ohio River to the north of Louisville, Kentucky along I-65. The population was 44,953 at the 2010 census...
. Spectators can watch the event from the shore or aboard a competing vessel.
Traditional
The race began underneath the George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge, which served as the start/finish line. Both steamboats raced to Six Mile IslandSix Mile Island State Nature Preserve
Six Mile Island is a nature preserve in Jefferson County, Kentucky located on the Ohio River.-About:The Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission is the project manager over the preserve and was dedicated June 24, 1979. The reserve is an undeveloped riverine island and is known for its extensive...
, where they turned around to return to the bridge. The distance is 14 miles, with boats averaging a speed of 7 miles per hour (3.1 m/s). The competitors were traditionally the Belle of Louisville and the Delta Queen, although other additional or substitutionary vessels occasionally competed. The annual winner received the Golden Antlers, which would remain with the winner until the next race.
Modern
2008 was the last year to feature the Delta Queen as a competitor prior to it being renovated into a dry-dock hotel; the Belle of Cincinnati has subsequently entered the races in the Queens stead. In 2009, the event organizers changed the format prompting the Belle of Cincinnatis Capt. Kerry Snowden to note that "[t]here are no rules in riverboat racing, so whatever goes, goes". The new format features of series of tasks that the crews must perform for points prior to the race. Because the Cincinnati is a diesel ship with more power, it is required to travel further to Harrods Creek. The boat with the most points after the race is determined to be the winner and is presented with the Silver Antlers, which take the place of the Golden Antlers that were retired when the Queen stopped competing.History
The first Great Steamboat Race was held in 1963 between the Belle of Louisville and the Delta Queen, establishing the traditional rivalry until 2008 when the Queen was retired. The Queen won the first race. As of the Delta Queens last race in 2008, the Louisville won 22 races compared to the Queens 20 wins. The Louisvilles winning record compared to the Queens larger size and more powerful engines has helped fuel the unproven speculation that the race is predetermined.Other competitors
Several other riverboats have participated in the race:- Julia Belle SwainJulia Belle SwainThe Julia Belle Swain is a steam-powered sternwheeler currently operating out of La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA.Designed and built in 1971 by Capt. Dennis Trone, the Julia Belle was the last boat built by Dubuque Boat & Boiler Works of Dubuque, Iowa...
competed in 1975 and 1976, the latter of which it won. - Natchez IXNatchez (boat)Natchez has been the name of several steamboats, and four naval vessels, each named after the city of Natchez, Mississippi or the Natchez people. The current one has been in operation since 1975. The previous Natchez were all operated in the nineteenth century, most by Captain Thomas P. Leathers...
of the New Orleans Steamboat Company in 1982, which it won. - Spirit of Jefferson raced in 1999 in the Louisvilles stead while the Louisville was recovering from sabotage. It is diesel-powered and has been used as an observation boat for the race.
- Belle of Cincinnati was a contestant in 2002, and followed as an observation boat in latter years. Since 2009, it has replaced the Delta Queen as the annual competitor. It is diesel-powered and has also been used as an observation boat for the race.
Popular viewing areas for the race are the old Water Tower
Louisville Water Tower
The Water Tower of Louisville, Kentucky , is the oldest ornamental water tower in the world, having been built before the more famous Chicago Water Tower. Both the actual water tower and its pumping station are on the National Register of Historic Places...
in Louisville, and along Utica Pike in Jeffersonville
Jeffersonville, Indiana
Jeffersonville is a city in Clark County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. Locally, the city is often referred to by the abbreviated name Jeff. It is directly across the Ohio River to the north of Louisville, Kentucky along I-65. The population was 44,953 at the 2010 census...
, especially near Duffy's Landing.
Results
| Year | Winner | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Delta Queen | |
| 1964 | Belle of Louisville | |
| 1965 | Delta Queen | |
| 1966 | Delta Queen | |
| 1967 | N/A | High water led to race cancellation. |
| 1968 | Delta Queen | |
| 1969 | Belle of Louisville | |
| 1970 | Belle of Louisville | |
| 1971 | Belle of Louisville | |
| 1972 | Belle of Louisville | |
| 1973 | Delta Queen | |
| 1974 | Delta Queen | |
| 1975 | Belle of Louisville | |
| 1976 | Julia Belle Swain | |
| 1977 | Delta Queen | |
| 1978 | Delta Queen | |
| 1979 | Belle of Louisville | |
| 1980 | Belle of Louisville | |
| 1981 | Belle of Louisville | |
| 1982 | Natchez-New Orleans | Three-boat race |
| 1983 | Belle of Louisville | |
| 1984 | Delta Queen | Belle of Louisville received a bomb threat and had to pull into Cox's Park, evacuating 613 passengers. |
| 1985 | Delta Queen | |
| 1986 | Delta Queen | |
| 1987 | Belle of Louisville | |
| 1988 | Belle of Louisville | |
| 1989 | Delta Queen | |
| 1990 | Delta Queen | |
| 1991 | Belle of Louisville | |
| 1992 | Delta Queen | |
| 1993 | Belle of Louisville | |
| 1994 | Delta Queen | |
| 1995 | Belle of Louisville | |
| 1996 | Belle of Louisville | Race shortened due to high water levels on the Ohio. |
| 1997 | Delta Queen | |
| 1998 | Belle of Louisville | |
| 1999 | Spirit of Jefferson | |
| 2000 | Belle of Louisville | |
| 2001 | Delta Queen | |
| 2002 | Belle of Louisville | Belle of Cincinnati "initially won", but was disqualified when "it was found out" that it was diesel powered, and thus not a steamboat. |
| 2003 | Delta Queen | three boat race |
| 2004 | Belle of Louisville | |
| 2005 | Belle of Louisville | Delta Queen was unable to come to Louisville due to high water levels on the Ohio. |
| 2006 | Delta Queen | |
| 2007 | Belle of Louisville | The Delta Queen arrived at the finish line ahead of the Belle by 1.5 boatlengths, but because the Queen turned before it got to its turnaround buoy, the Belle was given the victory. |
| 2008 | Delta Queen | The Belle of Louisville arrived at the finish line ahead of the Delta Queen, but because the Belle turned before it got to its turnaround buoy, the Queen was given the victory. 3 Boat Race. |
| 2009 | Belle of Louisville | Belle of Cincinnati replaced Delta Queen, which has been retired. |
| 2010 | Belle of Cincinnati | Score: 60 - 99 |
| 2011 | Belle of Louisville | High waters on the The Ohio River Ohio River The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream... forced the race to be postponed to June 29, 2011. The Belle of Cincinnati was renamed The Belle of Kentucky, and, accordingly, she flew a Kentucky Wildcats Kentucky Wildcats The Kentucky Wildcats are the men's and women's intercollegiate athletic squads of the University of Kentucky , a founding member of the Southeastern Conference... banner covering "Belle of Cincinnati", adding a UofL Louisville Cardinals The Louisville Cardinals are the athletic teams representing the University of Louisville. A member of the Big East Conference since 2005, they are known nationally as traditional powers in men's basketball, women's volleyball, and dance team... /UK Kentucky Wildcats The Kentucky Wildcats are the men's and women's intercollegiate athletic squads of the University of Kentucky , a founding member of the Southeastern Conference... rivalry flavor to the race (seeing as the owners of The Belle of Cincinnati are UK Kentucky Wildcats The Kentucky Wildcats are the men's and women's intercollegiate athletic squads of the University of Kentucky , a founding member of the Southeastern Conference... fans) as a means to increase interest in the event being held outside of the traditional time of year, The Kentucky Derby Festival Kentucky Derby Festival The Kentucky Derby Festival is an annual festival held in Louisville, Kentucky during the two weeks preceding the first Saturday in May, the day of the Kentucky Derby... . |
External links
- May 2 WHAS11 article 2007 results as well as details of judges decision
- Official Site There is also an additional Official History page
- Brightcove review of the race Done by Curious Travelers
- May 1, 2007 Courier-Journal article Features a map of the race.