BELLE OF LOUISVILLE
REIGNS QUEEN OF THE OHIO
May 1, 2019. Louisville, KY. – The Belle of Louisville has reclaimed the crown as riverboat royalty, after winning tonight’s Great Steamboat Race Presented by IBEW Local 369. In a unanimous decision from the judges who were aboard both boats, the hometown Belle was declared the winner of the 57th annual race against her upriver rival, the Belle of Cincinnati. Louisville’s Belle takes home the coveted silver antlers.
“It was a great race,” said Mike Berry, Kentucky Derby Festival President & CEO. “The Belle of Louisville takes back the title for the first time since 2015. No collusion and no debate from the judges.”
The Belle of Louisville has now won the race 28 times since 1963. This year’s event was a traditional race on the river. The 14-mile course on the Ohio River started and finished at the Clark Memorial Bridge. The antlers were awarded to the Belle of Louisville at the Awards Ceremony on the Music Stage inside the Chow Wagon.
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 369 is sponsoring this year’s race, along with Contributing Sponsors Four Roses, Kentucky Proud and PPL Therapeutic Services, PLLC. Official Bank is Limestone Bank. Media Sponsor is Q103.1.
Since 1956, the Derby Festival has worked to bring the community together in celebration. The Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, 400 businesses
