The 2007 Race, as seen from Duffy's Landing in Jeffersonville, Indiana

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. Jeffersonville (ˈdʒɛfɚsənˌvɪl is a city in Clark County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three year-old thoroughbred horses held annually in Louisville Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May The Kentucky Derby Festival is an annual festival held in Louisville Kentucky during the two weeks preceding the first Saturday in May the day The race is normally between the Belle of Louisville and the Delta Queen, although other steamboats have participated. 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 The Delta Queen is an American sternwheel Steamboat that is a U The first race was in 1963.

The race begins underneath the George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge. The George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge is a four-lane cantilevered truss bridge crossing the Ohio River between Louisville Kentucky and Jeffersonville Both steamboats race to Six Mile Island, where they turn around to return to the bridge, which is also the finish line. Six Mile Island is a National preserve in Jefferson County Kentucky located on the Ohio River. The distance is 14 miles, with an average speed of seven miles per hour (11. 27 km/h) for each boat.

The Delta Queen won the first four races, after which its owners refused to race again until the Belle could be more competitive. The Queen is a larger boat, with more powerful engines. It has been speculated that the race is predetermined, although no public proof exists. ^[1]

As of 2007, where the Belle of Louisville won in a controversial decision by the judges, the Belle has had 22 wins over 19 wins for the Delta Queen. The winner each years gets to have the "Golden Antlers" until the next race.

• Julia Belle Swain in 1975 and 1976 (the latter of which it won)
• Natchez IX of the New Orleans Steamboat Company in 1982 (which it won). The Julia Belle Swain is a steam-powered sternwheeler currently operating out of La Crosse Wisconsin, USA Natchez has been the name of several Steamboats and four naval vessels each named after the city of Natchez Mississippi or the Natchez people
• Spirit of Jefferson raced in 1999 in the Belle's stead while the Belle was recovering from sabotage
• Belle of Cincinnati was a contestant in 2002, and followed as an observation boat in latter years.

The previous two are not actually steamboats, as they run by diesel power instead of steam, and now go along with the actual steamboats as a venue for spectators.

Popular viewing areas for the race are the old Water Tower in Louisville, and along Utica Pike in Jeffersonville, especially near Duffy's Landing. 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. Jeffersonville (ˈdʒɛfɚsənˌvɪl is a city in Clark County, Indiana, along the Ohio River.

Results

Competitors start to arrive at the start point of the 2007 Race

Spectators of the 2007 Race at Duffy's Landing in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Jeffersonville (ˈdʒɛfɚsənˌvɪl is a city in Clark County, Indiana, along the Ohio River.

The Belle of Cincinnati follows the competitors in 2007

The Delta Queen at the start of the 2008 race.

References

• 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.