Belle of Cincinnati and Mary M. Miller to duel in Great Steamboat Race
The Belle of Louisville won't be avenging its loss last year to the Belle of Cincinnati in the Great Steamboat Race this year.
The race returns to the Ohio River on Wednesday, April 30.
Watch highlights from last year's race in the player below:
Kentucky Derby Festival officials announced on Tuesday that the Belle of Louisville had to scratch from the race due to an internal leak.
In the Belle of Louisville's place, the Mary T. Miller will take part in the race.
"The Mary M. Miller is a diesel-powered, twin engine, 570 horsepower riverboat. The Mary was built in 1985, just upriver from Louisville, in Utica, Indiana," according to KDF officials. "She was named for Mary Millicent Miller who was born in Louisville. She became the first licensed female steamboat captain in America. The boat was purchased by Louisville Metro in 2017."
Guests will board the boats from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. The race will start at 6 p.m.
Once the race is under way, the boats will head out for 7 miles before making their way back to the Clark Memorial Bridge for the finish. The winner will receive the coveted Silver Antlers.
If you purchased a ticket to ride on the Belle of Louisville during the race, there will still be a dockside event. Officials said ticket holders will be contacted via email with more information about the change.
The Belle of Cincinnati snapped the Belle of Louisville's four-year winning streak last year, marking the boat's first win since 2017.
This is the race's 62nd year.