Madison Regatta calls off Friday racing due to debris in Ohio River

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — One of southern Indiana's biggest Fourth of July traditions called off racing Friday because of unsafe debris in the Ohio River.

The Madison Regatta announced on social media that all racing activities scheduled for the day were called off "in the interest of the safety of our drivers, crews, and officials."

"We know this is disappointing, but safety will always come first," the post said.

The river has been filled with logs, branches and other debris since last weekend's flooding. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said this debris can cause serious crashes or damage to boats.

Organizers with the Madison Regatta said they are working with H1 unlimited and the American Power Boat Association to create a revised schedule for the rest of the weekend.

The updated schedule will be released once it is finalized.

The annual Madison Regatta is one of the biggest Fourth of July events in southern Indiana. The event is known for hydroplane races, which is motorboat racing that requires boats to skim the water's surface at high speeds.