LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Instead of the Great Steamboat Race winner being determined by the first boat to cross the finish line at the Clark Memorial Bridge, the winner will be the vessel which accumulates the most points from performing a series of nine tasks assigned to each competitor throughout the day and during the race.
Representatives of the Kentucky Derby Festival, the Belle of Louisville, the Belle of Cincinnati and the American Queen held a sampling of "individual tasting mats" at a recent press conference to select the single-barrel bourbon that will be served aboard the vessels during the Great Steamboat Race on May 2.
In addition, Kentucky Derby Festival President and CEO Mike Berry announced the tasks and scoring system that will determine the winner of the race.
With three of the six judges' votes, the Four Roses barrel numbered NS 12-1J was selected as the bourbon to be served during the event. The selected bourbon is aged eight years and features a Four Roses recipe coded OBSV, one of the distiller's 10 bourbon recipes. It is known for its "high rye content with a delicate fruit, spice and creamy taste." Said Jim Rutledge, Four Roses Master Distiller: "As the name indicates, Four Rose Single Barrel Bourbon is selected from individual barrels, and each bottle label indicates the barrel number and rack location in the warehouse in which the bourbon was aged."
The task and scoring system that was implemented three years ago to determine the winner of the Great Steamboat Race will return again this year. Instead of the event winner being determined by the first boat to cross the finish line at the Clark Memorial Bridge, the winner will be the vessel which accumulates the most points from performing a series of nine tasks assigned to each competitor throughout the day and during the race.
Task No. 1: Jousting inflatable (10 points for 1st, 5 points for 2nd and 0 points for 3rd)
Task No. 2: Obstacle inflatable course (10, 5 and 0 points)
Task No. 3: Handy line toss (10, 5 and 0 points)
Task No. 4: Monkey fist toss (15, 10 and 5 points)
Task No. 5: Calliope contest (10, 5 and 0 points)
Task No. 6: Buoy flag retrieval (25 points for successful retrieval, 0 points for failure)
Task No. 7: VIP retrieval (25 points for successful retrieval, 0 points for failure)
Task No. 8: Bourbon barrel retrieval (25 points for successful retrieval, 0 points for failure)
Task No. 9: Boat race finish (29 points)
Failure to perform any of the five tasks will result in a "no score," plus a 35-point penalty. The vessel with the most points as determined by the judges will be declared the winner. The majority decision of the judges will be final. The winner will be presented with a set of 12-point Silver Antlers.
Contributing sponsors of the Great Steamboat Race are: Republic Industries International, Inc., Captain's Quarters Riverside Grille, Four Roses Bourbons and Lite 106.9 WVEZ.
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