Great Steamboat Race
The Belle of Louisville defeated the Belle of Cincinnati and the American Queen in the 50th annual Great Steamboat Race on May 2.
This year’s race included a new set of rules, which featured a series of challenges – from a rope toss to a calliope-playing contest – that determined the overall winner based on accumulated points.
The Belle of Louisville earned 134 points to the Belle of Cincinnati’s 105 and the American Queen’s 90. The Belle of Louisville was also first to cross the finish line and received a set of silver-plated antlers, which are traditionally given to the winning steamboat.
Photos by JAMES EATON | Contributing Photographer
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- Belle of Louisville Captain Drew Cederholm, Captain Keith Colburn of the Deadliest Catch, and Belle of Louisville Captain Mark Doty.
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- Mayor Greg Fischer, Wendy Jacobs, and Belle of Louisville Captain Mark Doty, hoisted up the 12 pt. Silver Antlers.
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- The Belle of Louisville won the Great Steamboat Race by completing all the tasks and earning the most points.
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- Mayor Greg Fischer spoke to the crowd after receiving a bottle of Four Roses Bourbon.
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- Kentucky Derby Festival Chairperson Wendy Jacobs, received a Four Roses Bourbon Barrel lid.
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- The American Queen, blew the whistle and let off some steam as the sun began to set.
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- Passengers congregated on the Stern of the American Queen.
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- Luke Sprague of the Bellarmine Knights Basketball Team, The Bellarmine Knight, Colin O’Malley, and Braydon Hobbs of the Bellarmine Knights Basketball Team.
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- Mark and Kelly Leonardi.
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- Tathyana and Will Fensterer.
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- The Belle of Cincinnati, made a brief stop at Captain’s Quarters to pick up their VIP Passenger, to complete one of the challenges that was a feature of the the Great Steamboat Race.
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- Peg and Ken Schoon of Munster, IN enjoyed the leisurely ride on the American Queen.
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- The Band played a variety of music for the guests aboard the American Queen.
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- Dan Gardner of Four Roses Bourbon and John Waggoner of the American Queen.
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- Davin and Rebecca DeVore.
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- Bill Marks, Misty Koppel, and Heather and Paul Haydon.
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- Debbie Thomas, Emily Foerster, Catherine Naiser and Kirby Coleman.
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- Spectators at Tumbleweed Bar & Grill on the River, cheered on the Steamboats as they passed by.
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- Spectators watched the beginning of the race from Waterfront Park.
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- The Belle of Cincinnati took the early lead ahead of both the Belle of Louisville and the American Queen, at the start of the 50th Annual Great Steamboat Race.
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- John and Claudette Waggoner – Owners of the American Queen.
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- Annie Long, Kitty Shay and Claudette Waggoner.
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- Paul Buddeke, John Waggoner – Great American Steamboat Co. Chairman of the Board, Todd Stephan of Fifth Third Bank, and John Edwards of Fifth Third Bank.
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- Paul and Melissa Buddeke.
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- Gretchyn Furlong, Jeanie Kallis, Nancy Kosse and Melissa Buddeke.
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- American Queen Captain John Sutton and American Queen Vice President of Operations Greg Brown.
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- Kevin Sommerfield of Tournament of Roses, KDF Board Member Chris Whelan, Terry Madigan of Tournament of Roses, and KDF Board Member Jeff English.
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- Janet Nall, Leslie Vidra, Mark and Jamie Dobson and Marcy Franklin.
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- David and Velma Watkins, Angie Alstatt, and Jerry Hack.
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- Jeff and Nancy Kosse, and Steve Decker.
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- Colin O’Malley, Shannon Whalen, The Bellarmine Knight, Kayla Dennis, and Katie Walsh.
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