Louisville Boat Race: Champion's Story

The Great Steamboat Race is an annual race that takes place in Louisville, Kentucky, as part of the Kentucky Derby Festival. The race, which first took place in 1963, is between at least two riverboats, which compete on the Ohio River between Louisville, Kentucky, and Jeffersonville, Indiana. The winner of the race is awarded either the Golden or Silver Antlers. The 2024 winner of the Great Steamboat Race was the Belle of Cincinnati, which also won in 2010, 2013, 2016, 2017, and 2023. The Belle of Louisville has also won multiple times, including in 2022.

Characteristics	Values
Name of the Race	Great Steamboat Race
Location	Ohio River, Louisville, Kentucky
Date	Wednesday before the first Saturday of May
Year	Annual since 1963
Participants	The Belle of Louisville, The Belle of Cincinnati, The Delta Queen, The American Queen, The American Duchess, The American Countess, The Julia Belle Swain, The Natchez IX, The Spirit of Jefferson, The American Countess
Winners	1963 – Delta Queen, 1964 – Belle of Louisville, 1965 – Delta Queen, 1966 – Delta Queen, 1967 – No race, 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 IX, 1983 – Belle of Louisville, 1984 – Delta Queen, 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, 1997 – Delta Queen, 1998 – Belle of Louisville, 1999 – Spirit of Jefferson, 2000 – Belle of Louisville, 2001 – Delta Queen, 2002 – Belle of Louisville, 2003 – Delta Queen, 2004 – Belle of Louisville, 2005 – Belle of Louisville, 2006 – Delta Queen, 2007 – Belle of Louisville, 2008 – Delta Queen, 2009 – Belle of Louisville, 2010 – Belle of Cincinnati, 2011 – Belle of Louisville, 2012 – Belle of Louisville, 2013 – Belle of Cincinnati, 2014 – Belle of Louisville, 2015 – Belle of Louisville, 2016 – Belle of Cincinnati, 2017 – Belle of Cincinnati, 2018 – American Duchess, 2019 – Belle of Louisville, 2020 – No race, 2021 – Belle of Louisville, 2022 – Belle of Louisville, 2023 – Belle of Louisville, 2024 – Belle of Cincinnati

The Great Steamboat Race

The race is around 14 miles long, with boats averaging a speed of 7 miles per hour, and lasts for about two hours. The course starts and finishes at the Clark Memorial Bridge, with boats turning around at Six Mile Island. Spectators can watch from the shore, or aboard a competing vessel.

The traditional rivalry was between the Belle of Louisville and the Delta Queen, with the first race in 1963 being won by the latter. The Delta Queen was retired from the race in 2008, and the Belle of Cincinnati has since taken its place. Other riverboats that have participated include the Julia Belle Swain, Natchez IX, Spirit of Jefferson, and American Duchess. The winner of the race is awarded the Silver Antlers.

The 2022 race was won by the Belle of Louisville, despite it being the last of the three boats to cross the finish line. This was because it was the only authentic steamboat to cross the finish line, and so was awarded the victory by the judges, captains, and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. The 2023 race included the same three boats as the year before, with the Belle of Louisville, Belle of Cincinnati, and American Countess competing for bragging rights. The 2024 race was won by the Belle of Cincinnati.

Boat Launches in Ontario: Private Access Closed?

You may want to see also

The Belle of Louisville

The race is approximately 14 miles long, with boats averaging a speed of 7 miles per hour. Traditionally, the race was between the Belle of Louisville and the Delta Queen, although other steamboats have participated, including the Belle of Cincinnati, the American Queen, and the American Duchess. The winner of the race receives either the Golden or Silver Antlers, which are held until the next race.

In 2024, the Belle of Louisville physically finished last but was declared the winner of the Great Steamboat Race because it was the only authentic steamboat in the race. This victory marked the third consecutive win for the Belle of Louisville, with previous victories in 2019 and 2021.

Boat Launching on Lake George: May Opening

You may want to see also

The Belle of Cincinnati

The Great Steamboat Race has become a beloved tradition in Louisville, with a rich history of riverboat rivalry and race-day excitement. The race covers a distance of 14 miles, with boats averaging a speed of 7 miles per hour. The winner is awarded the Silver Antlers, which were introduced after the Delta Queen stopped competing in 2008.

Who Manages the Road to Cahookie Creek's Boat Launch?

You may want to see also

The Delta Queen

After the war, in 1946, the Delta Queen was purchased by Greene Line of Cincinnati, Ohio. It entered regular passenger service in 1948, plying the waters of the Ohio, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Cumberland Rivers. The boat has changed ownership seven times over fifty years. In 1966, Congress passed a law that would put the Delta Queen out of business, but this was successfully challenged. The Delta Queen was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1989.

In 2007, it was announced that the Delta Queen would cease operations at the end of the 2008 season. The boat was forced to retire when its Congressional Exemption from the 1966 Safety at Sea Act expired. Despite a "Save the Delta Queen" campaign, the boat ceased all service at the end of 2008. It arrived in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 2009, becoming a floating boutique hotel.

In 2013, Congress voted on giving the Delta Queen an exemption to allow it to travel the rivers again, but the bill failed to pass. However, in 2018, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to reinstate an exemption, allowing the Delta Queen to return to service. The boat is currently docked in Houma, Louisiana, awaiting repairs and upgrades.

Armada Boat Race: A Unique Rowing Event

You may want to see also

The Silver Antlers

The Belle of Louisville and the Belle of Cincinnati are the traditional competitors in the Great Steamboat Race, with other boats occasionally joining the race. The rivalry between these two boats has fuelled speculation that the race is predetermined, as the Louisville boat has a winning record despite the Cincinnati boat having more powerful engines. The Belle of Louisville won the 2022 race and was awarded the 12-point Silver Antlers, despite crossing the finish line last out of three boats. It was declared the winner because it was the only authentic steamboat in the race.