Yo Leej--It looks like the Belle will race the Delta Queen this year on May 3. The Spirit (not Star) of Jefferson had to take her place last year and even though she won, those nasty ole judges gave the Golden Antlers to the Delta Queen. For those of you in cyberspace that don't know anything about steamboat races, pretty much anything goes and there are very few rules. Leej, it was 1997 that she sank, and I mispelled Belvedere, and I think the problems this year are financial ones.

You can read about various Kentucky Derby Festival events here.

You can read what the Courier-Journal has to say here.

And you can read about last year's events here.

Mary

PS It looks like the Julia Belle Swain is from Peoria...maybe Art knows about her.