The Great Race

Wednesday afternoon of Derby Week brings out one of the more popular events of the festival...The Great Steamboat Race. Now I know I'm a little off with this opening picture of the Belle of Cincinnati but I'm just showing off the boat I was on. Now this boat is a good one to ride too. It's a first class party ride and I must admit they have some pretty good food on board too (you have to get the pulled pork barbecue if you get the chance). There was a chance of rain and even a few boomers moving in and a little shower did make its way through before the race started but it really didn't look to be a bad kind of day. One heavy shower that went just to the north of us did make the air a little cooler and really that was better than having to deal with a heat stroke.

But now....let's introduce the contenders to this big battle. First we have the visiting boat....The Delta Queen....originally from Cincinnati and makes regular visits down river all the way to the Mississippi and New Orleans. It's longer and wider than the Belle and has a single smokestack to the Belle's two. Has a much larger paddlewheel than the Belle that can really give it a big push if needed. Has sleeprooms for its passengers during the longer trips up and down the river. Won the 2006 race and boy did those people know how to throw a party afterwards. I think they danced all the way down to New Orleans.....or was it back to Cincinnati.....a lot of water has gone under the bridge since then. Has a reputation of belching out lots of black smoke under full power to show that she's really working her guts out to get a win for her crew.

On it's home court the Belle of Louisville. When it comes to Derby time and their steamboat racing these people take it very seriously. They don't like to lose and they'll look for anything they can do to get the edge. The boat nearly sunk a few years ago when a man intentionally left one of the plugs out allowing thousands of gallons of water to race inside the grand lady. Had it not been for some quick thinking of a nearby tugboat captain she would have surely gone all the way to the bottom of the Ohio River. Repairs took several months but the gallant crew and workers from nearby Jeff Boat got the lady back on her feet and ready to race once again. This year she was looking for some payback too after losing to the Queen in 2006. Yes....her, the crew, and the sellout crowd on board were ready to make some noise.

The Belle of Louisville actually off to the better start. The Belle of Cincinnati was the official start boat and blew it's loud whistle to get things underway. As the Belle of Louisville began pushing under the Second Street Bridge (the starting line) the Delta Queen was still moving backwards into position. Off the Belle of Louisville went, it's lead getting wider and wider. It seemed like there would be no chance at all for the Queen to catch up at this point but that would not be the case.

As I said earlier the Queen had a much bigger paddle than the Belle. Proportionally the Queen was more of a shotgun shape with it's long and relatively narrow body. To look at it from the side it was a much sleeker body to move through the water. It wasn't long before the Queen was gaining ground and moving into position to catch the Belle. Both boats hit 6-Mile Island, the turnaround point at about the same time and began their trip back to the bridges.

It was here where things got more interesting. When the boats made their turnaround the Belle found itself on the Kentucky side of the river and the Queen was on the Indiana side. After moving a few hundred yards downriver the Belle suddenly made a move across the bow of the Queen (at a safe distance of course). The Queen picked up its pace and began gaining on the Belle while dozens on the Belle of Cincinnati watched in awe. For once this was turning into a real boat race.

After passing the Belle the Queen moved into position in front of the Belle and charged toward the finish line at the Second Street Bridge. The Belle was forced closer to the Indiana side of the river as it tried to gain ground. When it was said and done though the Queen reached the bridge first and blew its whistle to declare itself the winner. But it doesn't end there. After the race the judges (all from Louisville) said the Queen had committed a foul by blocking the Belle and the hometown boat was declared the winner. What I found out later was the captain of the Queen was a rookie steamboat racer. His big lesson learned? Don't make the hometown people mad at you. Makes for an interesting race next year doesn't it.