Derby Steamboat Race today

I just found a webcam in Louisville but unfortunately it doesn´t upload very often and it´s downriver of the landing. On the image gallery you can see the Belle turning around

http://eetee.us/station/webcam/webcam.php

Carmen

Here's another article from the Courier-Journal, entitled "The boat race has lost steam with the public". Yes, it is true, and many could offer their opinions/educated guesses as to why. Maybe they will do something to turn around the decline. Maybe the Kentucky Derby Festival could do more to further the cause of the DQ, in the process, too.

We're watching the race from Florida!

The race is on. . . http://www.whas11.com/sharedcontent/VideoPlayer/videoPlayer.php?vidId=57426&live=yes&props=liveplayer

Thanks- timing is everything. Tried to call but got no answer. That's OK.

The DELTA QUEEN won the race, but the "judges" gave it to the BELLE; something about a misplaced turn buoy? I read about it on the Courier-Journalsite. At the very least, its good publicity for the boats.

Greetings from mile 602.3 Ohio River aboard the DELTA QUEEN where the antlers are resting proudly atop the WINNER OF THE 2008 Kentucky Derby Festival Great Steamboat Race!

Three Cheers for Captain Larry Wilkinson and his crew...the DELTA QUEEN IS THE WINNER!

I am confused down here in news starved Nashville. No direct coverage of The Great Steamboat Race or anything else it seems when it comes to Kentucky down here in Nashville. I tried to keep up on the computer but got conflicting headlines as to the results. One Louisville TV station posted the headline that the Belle won but the last video from another showed the DQ ahead by about a mile just before the turn around. Now Travis assures us that the antlers are safely aboard the Queen. I am sure that he must be correct. But please someone inform us news starved steamboat race junkies in Nashville. WHAT HAPPENED! And don't leave out a second.

The Queen is the official winner!

I was there to see it all. In the beginning the Belle did her usual jump start and leaped out early, but the DQ powered on and was well ahead of the Belle by the turn. However, as the Queen approached the point where she usually makes a sweeping arc and heads downstream at the top of six mile island, she met a tow and had to instead do a three-point turn. As she made this time consuming maneuver, the Belle, who was barely near the foot of the island was already turning around quickly to head back. The poor Delta Queen made a valiant effort but could not catch her. At the ceremony, the Belle was announced the winner, but after Capt. Wilkinson's objection and a second opinion...the ruling was that the Belle cheated and the antlers went where they rightfully belong, up the Queen's stage. So as Travis reported, they are indeed onboard and on their way to Madison!

Just my point of view!

The DQ is the winner

Here's a link to the article in the Courier-Journal: http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080430/DERBYFUN03/304300001

Here's a link to a story on the upcoming rally: http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=cd2e2776-f0ca-4c9b-9f8c-85452f261b7b

And, some links to stories that have video reports
http://www.whas11.com/video/index.html?nvid=240748
http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=8234964&nav=0RZF
http://www.wlky.com/news/16088048/detail.html

Now, Folks,
let's not raise an uproar about the cheating during Louisville's Great Steamboat Race. It has not been a legitimate race since before 1980. The race is a chartered trip. The charterer is the Derby Festival Committee and they have dictated who shall win or lose for decades. Their concern about racing ethics runs at about twelve below zero.

The purpose is not a race at all. Rather it is an event like a parade or a balloon ascension or a drinking orgy to publicize the Kentucky Derby. Yesterday's trip was sponsored by a distiller who gave away whiskey to all comers. Many ride the boat hoping to rub shoulders with celebrities - if any were aboard yesterday they succeeded in disappearing like quail in underbrush.

For steamboat fans it is a wonderful opportunity to watch a couple of steamboats in more or less action. I have long advocated calling the event a parade, which it is, and shunning the word race, which it is not.

Very well put, and I was happy to see the sun was out for the event, the boats sure did look marvelous out there! The result was very fitting, as it was a very similar situation last year but in reverse order. Let just hope the fun will continue next year. If the Queen cannot attend, my vote is on your Natchez Allen, too bad she's so far away.

Alright, Ted,
The Belle passed the starting line at full head and the Delta Queen was stopped. The Delta Queen passed the Belle within two miles and rambled on up to the head of Six Mile Island. The Belle turned just below Six Mile Island, which is a little more than a mile long, and the Delta Queen chased her back to Louisville. Both captains reported problems concerning a towboat at Six Mile Island.

Both boats were all spiffied up and looking perfect. The Belle's machinery was working perfectly, better than for years. The Cincinnati Belle, carrying viewers of the race, ran on a slow bell all the way to keep from running away from both contestants.

On the Belle whiskey was free and the catering atrocious. The band was so loud it was a relief to get into traffic leaving the wharf after the race.

The is nothing much left to say.

Alan Bates;10651 wrote:

On the Belle whiskey was free and the catering atrocious. The band was so loud it was a relief to get into traffic leaving the wharf after the race.

The is nothing much left to say.

Alan, I guess that you were on the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE, 'cause on the BELLE OF CINCINNATI the whiskey cost. I'll pretty much stand by the rest of your statement!

The Great Steamboat Race Descriptions

Thanks for the blow by blow descriptions. The Great Steamboat Race day is the one day on the calendar that I have always looked forward to more than any other holiday. Even Christmas. Sadly, I have been unable to make it to Louisville for the race except for a couple of times because of my lousy work schedule this time of year. I suppose that it really cannot be considered a legitimate race these days but a steamboat ride is an escape from reality for me. It is very sad to think that this may have been the last of this great river tradition. So I will crawl into my reality escape module and not think about that today. Thanks again for the descriptions.