Great Steamboat Race


The Great Steamboat Race is an annual steamboat race, 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 the competition. In 2012, the Belle of Louisville and Belle of Cincinnati were joined in the race by the American Queen.

Format

The race is scheduled annually as part of the Kentucky Derby Festival. 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.

Traditional

The race began underneath the George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge, which served as the start/finish line. Both steamboats raced to Six Mile Island, where they turned around to return to the bridge. The distance is 14 miles, with boats averaging a speed of. 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 "here are no rules in riverboat racing, so whatever goes, goes". The new format features a 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.
is one of only five major riverboats in the United States that are powered by steam.
The 2012 race featured, for the first time since 2008, once again two steam-powered boats as competitors, as well as the diesel-powered Belle of Cincinnati. The American Queen, returned to overnight steamboat service in April 2012, competed in the three-way race on May 2, 2012 and finished as second.

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 Louisville's 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:
Popular viewing areas for the race are the old Water Tower in Louisville, and along Utica Pike in Jeffersonville, especially near Duffy's Landing.

Results

YearWinnerNotes
1963Delta Queen-
1964Belle of Louisville-
1965Delta Queen-
1966Delta Queen-
1967N/AHigh water led to race cancellation.
1968Delta Queen-
1969Belle of Louisville-
1970Belle of Louisville-
1971Belle of Louisville
1972Belle of Louisville-
1973Delta Queen-
1974Delta Queen-
1975Belle of Louisville-
1976Julia Belle Swain-
1977Delta Queen-
1978Delta Queen-
1979Belle of Louisville-
1980Belle of Louisville
1981Belle of Louisville-
1982Natchez-New OrleansThree-boat race
1983Belle of Louisville-
1984Delta QueenBelle of Louisville received a bomb threat and had to pull into Cox's Park, evacuating 613 passengers.
1985Delta Queen-
1986Delta Queen-
1987Belle of Louisville-
1988Belle of Louisville-
1989Delta Queen-
1990Delta Queen-
1991Belle of Louisville-
1992Delta Queen-
1993Belle of Louisville-
1994Delta Queen-
1995Belle of Louisville-
1996Belle of LouisvilleRace shortened due to high water levels on the Ohio.
1997Delta Queen-
1998Belle of Louisville-
1999Spirit of Jefferson-
2000Belle of Louisville-
2001Delta Queen-
2002Belle of LouisvilleBelle of Cincinnati "initially won", but was disqualified when "it was found out" that it was diesel powered, and thus not a steamboat.
2003Delta Queenthree boat race
2004Belle of Louisville-
2005Belle of LouisvilleDelta Queen was unable to come to Louisville due to high water levels on the Ohio.
2006Delta Queen-
2007Belle of LouisvilleThe 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.
2008Delta QueenThe 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.
2009Belle of LouisvilleBelle of Cincinnati replaced Delta Queen, which has been retired.
2010Belle of CincinnatiScore: 60 - 99
2011Belle of LouisvilleHigh waters on the Ohio River 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 banner covering "Belle of Cincinnati", adding a UofL/UK rivalry flavor to the race as a means to increase interest in the event being held outside the traditional time of year, The Kentucky Derby Festival.
2012Belle of Louisvillethree boat race including the American Queen
2013Belle of Cincinnati-
2014Belle of Louisville-
2015Belle of Louisville-
2016Belle of Cincinnati-
2017Belle of Cincinnati-
2018American DuchessThree way race including the American Duchess
2019Belle of Louisville