Great Steamboat Race History
The colorful and nostalgic Great Steamboat Race began in 1963 and has brought nearly as much attention and prestige to Louisville as the Kentucky Derby itself. Since its inception, the event has been a contest primarily between Louisville's historic steamer, the Belle of Louisville, and New Orleans' Delta Queen. Both boats were added to the National Historic Register in 1990 and are two of only six authentic steamboats in operation.On the Wednesday before the Kentucky Derby, the excitement starts to build for this cherished racing tradition - a 14-mile
battle up and down the Ohio River. The Belle and its River City rival stage a musical calliope duel before the race, which starts at the Clark Memorial Bridge and moves east to Six Mile Island. The competition is friendly, but intense, as thousands of spectators line the banks on both sides of the river to cheer the boats on. Families bring box lunches to the riverside, making for an afternoon of socializing and relaxation.In 1967, after winning four straight annual races, the owners of the Delta Queen declined to race the Belle again until she was made "more competitive." Major repairs were then made on the Belle, including installation of new boilers. The changes, along with some resourceful racing strategy by the Belle's captain, allowed the series to be tied at 16 wins apiece by 1998. The race series between the two historic vessels ended in 2008 - the hometown Belle of Louisville finishing with an overall record of 22 wins versus the Delta Queen's 20 victories. The Delta Queen is being temporarily operated as a floating hotel on the Tennessee River in Chattanooga.
Over the years, attempts have been made to expand the race by adding other vessels. In 1975 and 1976, the Julia Belle Swain of Illinois joined the competition and took first place in the '76 race. The Julia Belle Swain has not participated since then. In 1982, another upstart, the New Orleans Steamboat Company's Natchez entered the race and captured the coveted "Golden Antlers," again not returning to defend her title. In 1999, the Belle's "little sister," the Spirit of Jefferson stepped in for the sidelined steamboat to capture the win for the hometown crew. In 2003, the Belle of Cincinnati joined the competition for a three-way race. It was only the fourth time in the event's history that three vessels competed for riverboat supremacy on the Ohio River. The race has only been cancelled once and the course altered a few times due to high water along the Ohio River.
In 2009, a new era began for the Great Steamboat Race when the Belle of Cincinnati replaced longtime race competitor the Delta Queen. The Battle of the Belles now includes a series of challenges and tasks throughout race day for the boats and their crews - culminating in the race down the river. The overall winner now determined based on a point system.
The Great Steamboat Race has proven to be one of the Derby Festival's most popular events, especially in terms of tradition. The local and national media attention the Festival's slowest event receives and the requests for tickets are overwhelming.
The race is a delightful tradition of Festival week. Crowds in excess of 10,000 gather on the Indiana and Kentucky shorelines to cheer their favorite boat to victory. Three local television stations cover the race live as well as several radio stations each year. Revelers across the city celebrate at their own Steamboat Race parties, ranging from picnic foods to lavish spreads. The Derby Festival hosts a free Steamboat Race party at the Waterfront Chow Wagon and a ticketed event at the LVAA Boat Race Party at the Water Tower. Both offer excellent views of this favorite annual event.
The Prize
The boats vie each year for bragging rights and the coveted antlers. Beginning in 2009, the winner of the event was awarded a NEW set of silver-plated antlers to replace the traditional gilded antlers that were retired in 2008 (and are housed at the Belle of Louisville's offices on the wharf). The antlers are elk and spray-painted silver. They have been historically associated with steamboat races because they symbolize sleekness and speed. A symbol of riverboat supremacy, the antlers are proudly displayed for a year on the dock of the winning boat. They are presented to the winning captain on the wharf immediately following the race each year.
