>> THE WORLD'S LONGEST GO KART
RIDE AND I'M READY TO RIDE.
LOUISVILLE'S FOURTH STREET LIVE
IS A DOWNTOWN DESTINATION FOR
FUN.
AND AN EQUINE CENTER IS MAKING
ADOPTION THE OPTION FOR
KENTUCKY'S AT-RISK HORSES AND
I'LL BE ROLLING WITH THE BELLE
OF LOUISVILLE.
THESE STORIES COMING UP ON
"KENTUCKY LIFE."
HELLO EVERYBODY, I'M DAVE
SHUFFET ALONG WITH MY TWO GOLDEN
BOYS TOBY AND CHARLIE.
COME ON, CHARLIE, HURRY UP.
IT IS THE FIRST SATURDAY IN MAY
AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
OUR STORIES TONIGHT FEATURE A
FAST TRIP AROUND THE TRACK.
HORSES, PEOPLE HAVING A GOOD
TIME, AND A LOUISVILLE LANDMARK.
SO IT IS A SAFE BET THAT
TONIGHT'S SHOW IS INSPIRED BY
THE DERBY TRADITION.
WELL, THERE HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF
RECORDS SET AT KENTUCKY'S HORSE
RACING TRACKS.
IN SHEPPARDSVILLE, A DIFFERENT
KIND OF TRACK IS A RECORD SETTER
TOO.
THE KARTS COUNTRY FAMILY
ENTERTAINMENT CENTER IS HOME TO
THE LONGEST COMMERCIAL GO KART
TRACK IN THE WORLD.
MY SON WILL AND I COULDN'T WAIT
TO GIVE IT A TRY.
WILL AND I ARRIVED AT KART
COUNTRY BEFORE THEY NORMALLY
OPENED.
WE WERE READY TO GET OUT THERE
AND RIDE.
BUT THE VIDEO ARCADE CAUGHT US
FIRST.
♪
>> ISN'T THIS A COOL PLACE.
I'M GOING TO GO OVER THIS WAY,
OKAY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> WE HAD THE ARCADE TO
OURSELVES FOR A WHILE SO WE
COULD TRY EVERYTHING.
IT'S 15,000 SQUARE FEET OF OLD
FAVORITES.
AND THE NEWEST, HOTTEST GAMES
TOO.
JUST AS GOOD AS I WAS IN 1977.
I'M STILL IN IT.
ALTHOUGH I JUST LOST.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO PLAY NEXT?
♪
>> KATRINA JAMES JACKSON ONE OF
THE JAMES FAMILY WHO OWN AND RUN
KART COUNTRY TOLD ME ABOUT SOME
OF THE OTHER THINGS YOU CAN DO
HERE.
>> WE HAVE AN 18 HOLE MINIATURE
GOLF COURSE OUTSIDE PLUS A TENú█
CAGE BATTING SYSTEM WITH
BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL.
ALSO EVER ALSO INSIDE WITH THE
ARCADE, A TRAMPOLINE BASKETBALL
GAME AND A GYRO RIDE WHICH IS
BASICALLY A NASA SIMULATOR.
>> WILL TOOK A SPIN ON THAT GYRO
RIDE AND I DO MEAN SPIN.
WOW.
♪4ú
>> ALL RIGHT, AND YOU'RE DONE!
DO YOU FEEL LIKE AN ASTRONAUT?
>> NOW, WE WERE READY TO TAKE ON
KART COUNTRY'S MILE AND A HALF
GO KART TRACK.
KART COUNTRY HAS CARTS FOR ALL
AGES, FOR THE LITTLEST RIDERSú?
THERE ARE TWO SEATERS THAT MOM
OR DAD CAN DRIVE.
AND FOR THE JUNIOR SET, WHO ARE
NOT QUITE READY TO BE SPEED
RACERS.
THERE ARE KARTS THAT TRAVEL AT A
SLOWER PACE THAN THE ONES FOR
OLDER DRIVERS.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF SAFETY
FEATURES IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE
THAT EVERYONE HAS A FUN RIDE.
THIS ONE GOES OVER THE SHOULDER.
>> BRIAN JAMES GOT WILL AND I
INTO OUR KARTS AND MADE SURE
THAT WE KNEW THE RULES.
>> THE GREEN PEDAL IS YOUR GAS,
THE RED PEDAL IS YOUR BRAKE.
ONE AT A TIME.
AND YOU WANT TO GO WITH GREEN
LIGHT, WHEN YOU'RE READY TO
STOP, YOU LET GO OF GREEN AND
PUSH DOWN ON THE RED LIGHT.
AND I TELL EVERYBODY THE SAME
RULES THERE IS NO WRECK OR
BUMPING AND MAKE SURE YOU STAY
ON THE TRACK AND DON'T HIT THE
TIRE OPENS THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
GAS ON THE RIGHT AND THE BRAKE
ON THE LEFT GO.
AHEAD AND GET OUT THERE AND HAVE
A FUN TIME.
>> OKAY, WILL, ON YOUR MARK, GET
SET, GO!
>> BRIAN SAID MY THUNDER BOLT
KART WOULD DO 28 MILES AN HOUR.
AND I WANTED TO TAKE IT TO THE
LIMIT.
I WAS PRETTY GOOD ON THE
STRAIGHT AWAY.
BUT THE CORNERS WERE A LITTLE
CREEKY.
THIS CLOSE TO THE GROUND AND IT
FEELS LIKE YOU'RE GOING EVEN
FASTER.
h█
MAYBE IT IS HARDER TO STEER WHEN
YOU'RE ONLY SIX INCHES OFF THE
GROUND.
I WAS WAY OUT IF FRONT AND
FEELING PRETTY GOOD ABOUT MY
DRIVING UNTIL JUST LIKE THAT
HAIR AND THE FAMOUS RACE WITH
THE FOR TOYS.
I LEARNED THE HARD WAY THAT
STEADY JUST MIGHT BE MORE
IMPORTANT THAN FAST.
>>
GO ON, I'VE SPUN OUT!
>> CREART IS CELEBRATING ITS
30TH YEAR IN BUSINESS.
I'M SURE MY FIRST AFTERNOON
THERE WON'T BE MY LAST.
WELL, IF YOU'RE IN THE MOOD FOR
HIGH ENERGY, DANCING, DINING,
SOCIALIZING OR SHOPPING, THEN
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS COUNT TO
FOUR.
THAT'S FOUR FOR LOUISVILLE'S
FOURTH STREET LIVE AND AN
ENTERTAINMENT CENTER THAT'S A
GUARANTEED GOOD TIME.
FOURTH STREET IN DOWNTOWN
LOUISVILLE ONCE LOOKED LIKE
THIS.
CROWDED WITH SHOPPERS, BROWSING
STORES LIKE STEWARDS AND
SHOPPING HERE WAS AN ALL DAY
EXPERIENCE.
AND SOMETIMES, MORE.
THESE GRAND DEPARTMENT STORES
NOT ONLY ATTRACTED LOUISVILLIANS
BUT ALSO THOSE OF US FROM
EVERYWHERE WITHIN A HALF DAY'S
DRIVE OF LOUISVILLE.
AS A LITTLE BOY IN THE EARLY AND
MID-1960s, I REMEMBER COMING
HERE WITH MY PARENTS, DURING
CHRISTMAS SEASON.
FOR TWO DAYS OR SO, WE WOULD
WALK THE SIDEWALKS OF FOURTH
STREET GOING TO SHOE STORES,
CLOTHING STORES AND OTHERS, IN
SEARCH OF PRESENCE PRESENTS FOR
OUR MANY FAMILY MEMBERS.
FOR ME IT WAS DRUDGERY.
SURELY THAT'S ME WITH SORE FEET
AND COUNTING DOWN THE MINUTES
UNTIL I COULD GET THE HECK OUT
OF HERE.
BUT LOOKING BACK, I'M GLAD THAT
I'M ONE OF THE BABY-BOOMERS WHO
EXPERIENCE THE LAST DAYS OF THE
OLD FOURTH STREET.
BY THE 1970s, THESE DOWNTOWN
STORES WERE DYING A SLOW DEATH
AS MALLS AND CAN SHOPPING
CENTERS SPRANG UP IN THE
OUTLYING AREAS.
WELCOME TO THE NEW FOURTH
STREET.
IT IS CALLED, FOURTH STREET
LIVE.
A GLITTERING ARRAY OF NEON
SIGNS, LIVE MUSIC, DINING, AND
DANCING.
ALL WITH A BACK DROP OF THE OLD
BUILDINGS THAT I USED TO DREAD
GOING IN OVER THE YEARS
COMMUNITY LEADERS TRIED
DIFFERENT SCRAT GIS TO
REVITALIZE FOURTH STREET WITH
LIMITED SUCCESS.
IN 2004, WHEN FOURTH STREET LIVE
OPENED, NEW CROWDS OF PEOPLE
BEGAN TO WALK THIS FAMOUS STREET
AGAIN.
THIS TIME ALONG WITH SHOPPING,
THEY FIND HIGH ENERGY, BRIGHT
LIGHTS, DINING AND
ENTERTAINMENT.
IT HAS BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS.
IF ONLY THE WALLS OF THESE OLD
BUILDINGS COULD TALK, WHAT A
STORY THEY WOULD TELL.
FOURTH STREET IS A MICROCOSM OF
THE EVER CHANGING WAY IN WHICH
WE USE OUR DOWNTOWNS.
AND I WONDER, DECADES DOWN THE
ROAD, WHAT MY CHILDREN AND THEIR
CHILDREN WILL SEE ON FOURTH
STREET.
IN THE SUMMERTIME, HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE COME OUT TO ENJOY
CONCERTS AND OTHER SPECIAL
EVENTS AT FOURTH STREET LIVE.
WELL, MANY OF US SHARE OUR
HEARTS AND OUR HOMES WITH
ANIMALS WE HAVE ADOPTED FROM
HUMANE SOCIETIES AND RESCUE
ORGANIZATIONS.
TOBY IS A RESCUE AND I DON'T
THINK THAT CHARLIE AND I COULD
IMAGINE LIFE WITHOUT HIM.
BUT IT IS NOT JUST DOGS AND CATS
IN NEED OF A SECOND CHANCE.
ALL ACROSS THE STATE, HORSES ARE
AT RISK.
NEGLECTED, ABANDONED, OR WITH
OWNERS WHO ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO
TAKE CARE OF THEM.
THE KENTUCKY EQUINE HUMANE
CENTER IN JES MINUTE COUNTY IS A
REFUGE FOR THESE HORSES WITH
NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.
AND A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN TAKE
THEIR FIRST STEPS TO THEIR
FOREVER HOME.
>> THE KENTUCKY EQUINE HUMANE
CENTER'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE
SHELTER AND CARE FOR ANY
UNWANTED EQUINE IN STATE OF
KENTUCKY REGARDLESS OF BREED.
WE ARE A STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION
AND OUR DOORS ARE OPEN TO ANY
HORSE THAT NEEDS A PLACE TO GO.
WE TAKE HORSES FROM EVERYWHERE,
FROM INDIVIDUALS, THE RACE
TRACKS, AND ANIMAL CONTROL
AGENCIES, WE'RE THE ONLY
ORGANIZATION THAT HAD THE OPEN
DOOR POLICY.
WE DID NOT TURN ANYBODY AWAY.
VERY HARD FOR PEOPLE TO GIVE UP
THEIR HORSE BECAUSE, THEY ARE A
PART OF THEIR LIVES AND
UNFORTUNATELY, PEOPLE HAVE
FALLEN, HAVE LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES
WHERE THEY CAN'T KEEP THEIR
HORSE.
IT IS BEYOND CONTROL WHETHER
THEY ARE SICK OR THEY HAVE LOST
THEIR JOBS, OR SOMETHING IN
THEIR LIFE HAS CHANGED.
SO NOT ONLY IS THIS ORGANIZATION
A GREAT ASSET TO THE EQUINES IN
THE STATE BUT ALSO FOR THE
PUBLIC.
WE HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE.
THEY NEED SOMEWHERE FOR THEIR
HORSE TO GO.
WE OPENED THE DOORS IN APRIL OF
2007, AND SINCE THAT TIME, THE
CENTERS RECEIVED ABOUT 530 HEAD
OF HORSES AND ABOUT 70% OF THE
HORSE WERE THOROUGHBREDS.
THE EQUINE HUMANE CENTER, EVERY
HORSE WE HAVE OUR WONDERFUL
STAFF OF VETERINARIANS CHECK
THEM OUT AND GIVE THE HORSE A
PHYSICAL.
WE ASSESS THEIR PHYSICAL
CONDITION AS WELL AS THEIR
MENTAL CONDITION, WE LOOK AT ANY
EMOTIONAL ISSUES THAT THEY MIGHT
HAVE, AND DECIDE THE HORSE WILL
BE A CANDIDATE FOR ADOPTION.
WE DON'T DO ANY TYPE OF
RETIREMENT.
ALL OF THE HORSES THAT COME IN,
REALLY OUR GOAL IS TO FIND HOMES
FOR THEM.
>> WE ASSESS EVERYTHING FROM
THEIR AGE, THEIR TEMPERAMENT,
THEIR SOUNDNESS, WHAT THE RIDING
CAPABILITIES WILL BE, ALL OF
THAT GOES INTO HOW ADOPT ABOUT
THEY WILL BE.
THINK PEOPLE HAVE A MISCON SHIP
WE HAVE OLD BROKEN DOWN HORSES
AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF YOUNG HORSES
WITH A LOT OF POTENTIAL THAT
HAVE -- THEY DON'T HAVE ANY
ISSUES, THEY NEED TO FINISH
TRAINING THEM OR RETRAIN THEM
AND, YOU KNOW, GIVE THEM A
CHANCE AND HELP THEM TO REACH
THAT POTENTIAL.
>> IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A HORSE
IN JUST ABOUT ANY DISCIPLINE YOU
CAN FIND THEM OUT THERE.
SO IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU LIKE
THE TRAIL RIDING OR IF YOU
WANTED TO DO DRESSAGE OR
JUMPING, YOU KNOW, THERE IS
PLENTY OF HORSES OUT THERE FOR
JUST ABOUT ANY INTEREST.
>> THEY JUST NEED TO FIND THAT
RIGHT PERSON THAT'S GOING TO
LOVE AND TAKE CARE OF THEM FOR
THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
>> I JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH
THEM.
MY DAD AND I WENT, AND FLASH WAS
ONE OF THE FIRST HORSES WE MET
AND IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SITE WE
MOSTLY DO TRAIL RIDING AROUND
THE FARM, AND IS HOPEFULLY THE
SUMMER WE'LL DO A LITTLE BIT OF
HUNTER JUMPER.
HE'S MY BABY.
KIND OF A PUPPY DOG.
>> WE HAVE AN OPEN HOUSE
ADOPTION DATE ON THE THIRD
SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH THAT
RUNS FROM 10:00 A.M. TO
3:00 P.M.
THE FARM IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
WE ARE SEVERAL OF OUR HORSES IN
THE BARN THAT THE PEOPLE CAN
KIND OF LIKE A MEET AND GREET
SESSION.
WE LET THEM PET THEM AND GET TO
KNOW THEM AND GIVE TOURS OF THE
FARM AND PEOPLE ASK US QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE ADOPTION POLICIES, AND
WE TRY FIND OUT WHAT KIND OF
HORSES THEY ARE LOOKING FOR.
IT IS JUST A GREAT WAY TO MEET
ALL OF OUR HORSES.
>> ALL OF THE HORSE ARE THAT ARE
AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION ARE ON
THE WEBSITE, IN ADDITION TO OUR
WEBSITE WE HAVE THEM ADVERTISED
ON PET FINDER.
WE ALSO HAVE THE HORSE OF THE
WEEK.
WE PICK ONE HORSE EVERY WEEK
THAT WE HIGHLIGHT, AND WE SEND
IT OUT TO OUR E-MAIL LIST WITH A
PHOTO AND A DESCRIPTION.
>> I WATCH THE WEBSITE TO SEE
WHAT TYPE OF HORSES THEY HAVE.
>> WE'RE GEARING OURSELVES UP
GETTING READY TO GO BACK INTO
HORSE OWNERSHIP.
THE ADOPTION ISSUE APPEALS TO
US, FROM I GUESS THAT STANDPOINT
AND JUST MAKING THE RIGHT
DECISION AND MAKE SURE THAT IT
IS A GOOD FIT FOR US.
YOU WANT TO MAKE ANN FORMED
DECISION.
CERTAINLY, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT
AN ANIMAL THAT HAS A EXPECTANCY
OF 20 TO 30 YEAR.
IT IS NOT A THROW AWAY ISSUE.
IT IS A LIFE LONG DECISION.
>> HE WAS A BEAUTIFUL RACEHORSE,
THAT HAS INJURIES AND WAS
BROUGHT HERE TO RECOVER, AND TO
BE READOPTED.
AND I HAVE BEEN WATCHING HIS
PROGRESSION FOR THE LAST SEVERAL
MONTHS.
THIS IS MY FIRST CHANCE TO GET
TO SEE HIM TODAY.
>> THE ADOPTION FEES FOR OUT
HORSES ARE VERY MINIMUM.
AVERAGE IS $100 AND THEY DON'T
GO ABOVE $500 FOR A HORSE THAT
HAS A LOT OF TRAINING.
WE WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE
HORSE NUMBER ONE AND WE WANT TO
PUT THAT HORSE INTO A GOOD HOME
WHERE THEY'LL STAY AND WE'LL BE
HONEST ABOUT THE HORSE, THE
HORSE'S TEMPERMENT, IN A MEDICAL
ISSUES BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE
THE RIGHT MATCH.
>> I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY THAT HAS
A HORSE FROM THAT CENTER THAT'S
NOT TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH THEM.
>> THE THOROUGHBRED RETRAINING
PROGRAM WE JUST START, ACTUALLY
WE'RE ALL KIND OF EXCITED
BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO HELP US
TO GET SOME OF OUR THOROUGHBREDS
TO FIND FOREVER HOMES.
WE HAVE A TRAINER THAT IS
WORKING WITH THEM, SO THEY ARE
LEARNING, THEY ARE WALK TRACK
KANTERS ANDEST THAT THAT'S GOING
APPEAL NOR PEOPLE.
AFTER THE RACE CAREERS, THEY
CAN'T HAVE A SECOND CAREER AND
BE WONDERFUL HORSES -- AND CAN
BE WONDERFUL HORSES FOR PEOPLE.
>> SHE JUST CAME OFF THE TRACK
SHORTLY BEFORE SHE HAD GOT██
THERE.
>> I HAD BEEN LOOKING AROUND FOR
A NICE GOOD SOLID JUMPING HORSE
THAT I COULD TRAIN MYSELF.
I WENT TO THE EQUINE HUMANE
CENTER, ONE TIME WHEN THEY HAD
AN OPEN HOUSE, AND I WAS JUST
LOOKING AROUND AND I SAW MARGEY,
AND SHE WAS A BIG THOROUGHBRED.
SHE LOOKED YOUNG AND SHE HAD
PERSONALITY AND I WAS LIKE, I
LIKE THIS HORSE A LOT.@█@█
SHE HAD A GOOD SET OF FEET ON
HER SO THEY PEL PULLED HER OUT
AND THE MOMENT THEY PULLED HER
OUT I DECIDED THAT THAT'S THE
HORSE THAT I WAS GOING TO GET.
>> THIS IS PRINCESS MARGAURITE.
>> I WAS OUT THERE VOLUNTEERING,
AND YOU DO HAVE THIS BOND WITH
THE HORSE INSTANTLY.
WE GO OUT TO SHAKER VILLAGE AND
RIDE OUT ALL OF TRAILS AND THEY
DO ADD SO MUCH TO YOUR LIFE.
>> THE NICE REWARDING PART IS
WHEN YOU SEE A HORSE ON THE VAN
OR TRAILER GOING TO THE FOREVER
HOME AND WE HEAR BACK FROM THEM,
YOU GET THE PICTURES, WHEN THEY
ARE OUT ON THE TRAILS OR IN THE
SHOWS, WITH THEIR RIBBONS AND
YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE THE
SATISFACTION OF KNOWING THAT YOU
HAD A LITTLE PART IN THAT AND
YOU HELPED A HORSE FIND A REALLY
GOOD HOME AND GO ON TO THAT NEXT
CAREER.
THAT IS REALLY SATISFYING.
>> FOR EVERYBODY IT IS ABOUT
DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THE
HORSE.
AND WE OWE IT TO THEM.
WE LIKE TO THINK THAT WE DO THE
RIGHT THING AND WE DO IT ONE
HORSE AT A TIME.
>> NO MATTER WHAT YOUR AGE ORPa
HORSE EXPERIENCE, THE KENTUCKYB█
EQUINE HUMANE CENTER WOULD LOVE
TO HAVE YOUR HELP.
CONTACT THEM TO SEE HOW YOU CAN
VOLUNTEER.
WELL, WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE
STORIES THIS GRAND LADY COULD
TELL.
AT 96, SHE'S THE OLDEST RIVER
STEAM BOAT IN OPERATION, AND A
NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK.
BEAUTIFUL BELLE OF LOUISVILLE
CAPTURES THE IMAGINATION OF
EVERYONE WHO STEPS ABOARD.
>> THE BELLE OF LOUISVILLE TODAY
WAS ACTUALLY BILLED AS SHE WAS
BUILT BY THE JAMES FUND COMPANY
OUT OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.
SHE WAS BUILT WITH A STEEL HULL
WHICH WAS NOT UNKNOWN AT THE
TIME, BUT WAS JUST COMING INTO
ITS MAJOR FORTE AT THE TURN OF
THE 20TH CENTURY.
ONE OF THE REASONS SHE SURVIVES
TODAY IS BECAUSE OF THAT STEEL
HULL.
>> THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE WAS AS A
FERRY BOAT.
THEY BUILT THE BRIDGE IN
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE TO GO TO,
FROM MEMPHIS TO WEST ARKANSAS,
AND BUT THEY COULDN'T AFFORD TO
FINISH THE APPROACHES.
SO THEY CONTRACTED WITH A
COMPANY TO HAVE THE FERRY BOAT.
SHE WAS BUILT AS A FERRY BOAT,
WHICH LASTED ABOUT FIVE YEARS,
SHE OPERATED CARRYING
PASSENGERS, CARS, PRODUCE, BACK
AND FORTH FROM MEMPHIS TO WEST
MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS.
AFTER THAT SHE BECAME A PACKING
BOAT.
SHE WOULD STAY IN THIS MEMPHIS
HARBOR, GOING UP AND DOWN TO
TOWNS ALONG THE RIVER, AND
PICKING UP CARGO PASSENGERS,
FARM PRODUCT, BRING IT BACK TO
TOWN FOR SALE.
AND SHE DID THAT UP UNTIL 1947
WHEN SHE BECAME THE AVALON.
>> AND THEN IN THE EARLY 1930s
AS A PACKET WORK DISAPPEARED,
SHE BECAME EXCLUSIVELY AN
EXCURSION VESSEL AND A TRAMPING
STEAMER AND A TRAMP STEAMER IN
THOSE DAYS TRA.D FROM PORT TO
PORT DOING SHORT EXCURSIONS,
MOVING ON, DOING SHORT
EXCURSIONS FOR THE EXPORT AND SO
FORTH.
LIVING THAT AS A LIFE FOR MOST
OF HER EXISTENCE UNTIL THE EARLY
1960s.
HER NAME CHANGED TO THE AVALON
IN 1948, AND FROM 1948-1962, SHE
BECAME THE MOST WIDELY TRAVELED
RIVER STEAM BOAT OF HER SIZE, IN
U.S. HISTORY, AND THAT IS A
RECORD THAT HAS NEVER BEEN
BEATEN.
IN 1961, THE OWNERS OF THE
AVALON HAD REALIZED THAT SHE WA█
COSTING MORE TO OPERATE THAN SHE
WAS BRINGING IN, IN INCOME SO
THEY HAD ALREADY DETERMINED THEY
WOULD DEMOLISH HER THE FOLLOWING
SPRING IN 1962.
A CINCINNATI REPORTER GOT THE
IDEA OF STOPPING THE DEMOLITION,
AND PUTTING THE BOAT UP FOR
AUCTION WHICH WOULD BE A GREAT
NATIONWIDE PUBLIC RELATIONS
CAMPAIGN.
HE WAS SUCCESSFUL.
WITH TWO DAYS TO SPARE HE
STOPPED THE DEPP LITION.
THE BOAT WAS PUT UP FOR AUCTION,
THE HIGHEST BID WAS WAS OFFERED
BY JEFFERSON COUNTY, KENTUCKY.
FROM JUDGE MARLOW COOK WHO WAS
THE EXECUTIVE JUDGE AT THE TIME,
AND SUPPORT FROM MAYOR CHARLES
FARNSLY.
$34,000 BROUGHT THIS INCREDIBLE
BOAT TO LOUISVILLE, SHE WAS
RENAMED THE BELLE OF LOUISVILLE
THAT FALL, 1962.
>> HELLO, AND WELCOME ABOARD.
>> I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD
TO THIS FOR A WHILE.
>> THAT'S NICE TO HEAR.
I'LL TRY TO STAY OUT OF THE --
IS THERE ONE STILL ABOARD?
>> NO, IT HAS BEEN REMOVED.
>> THANK GOODNESS.
HOW ABOUT A TICKET?
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, HAVE HAVE A NICE
CRUISE.
>> I'M TRAVELING BACK IN TIME
WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL GRAND DAME
OF THE RIVER, THE BELLE OF
LOUISVILLE.
I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
MEETING THE PEOPLE WHO GUARD
THIS BEAUTIFUL ONE OF A KIND
LADY OF THE RIVER.
AND IF I'M LUCKY, I'LL GET TO
SEE THE PILOT HOUSE.
>> HOW ARE YOU?
>> FINE, HOW ARE YOU.
>> YOU'RE THE ENGINEER ABOARD
TODAY.
>> I AM THE ENGINEER.
>> WELL, IT HAS NOT CHANGED MUCH
OVER THE YEARS, OR HAS IT?
>> NO, IT HASN'T THIS IS THE
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT OPEN THE
BOAT, AND IS 1914, THE ENGINE,
THE MAIN ENGINES, THEY CAME OFF
OF ANOTHER BOAT, THEY WERE PUT
ON HER BRAND NEW.
>> REALLY.
WHAT BOAT WAS THAT?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
>> NOBODY KNOWS HOW OLD THEY
ARE.
>> CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE BIT
OF AN IDEA WHAT IS GOING ON?
>> THIS PUMP RIGHT HERE, POWERED
BY THE BOILERS.
IT IS A STEAM PUMP BUT IT PUMPS
WATER OUT OF THE RIVER.
AND IT SHOVES IT UP THROUGH A
HEATER WHERE IT IS PRE-HEATED
WATER, AND OUT TO THE BOILERS.
BY OPENING THIS THROTTLE, THE
BOAT GOES FASTER, OR WE'RE
SLOWING DOWN, AND WE GET THE
ORDERS FROM THE PILOT HOUSE BY
THIS ENGINE ORDER TELEGRAPH.
>> ARE WE IN FULL STEAM?
>> WE'RE IN CRUISING SPEED.
>> CRUISING SPEED.
WELL, LET'S TAKE IT ON UP TO
FULL SPEED.
>> THAT MIGHT FOUL THEM UP.
>> THIS IS FANTASTIC.
I'M LOOKING AT EQUIPMENT THAT
STILL WORKS VERY WELL, AFTER ALL
OF THESE YEARS.
>> OH, YES.
>>
>> ARE YOU GOING TO SHOW ME A
LITTLE BIT OF THIS?
>> SURE.
THE FIRST THING YOU WANT TO SEE
IS HOW MUCH OF THIS YOU HAVE.
THIS IS WHERE WE OPERATE AT.
THERE ARE ACTUALLY THREE WITH
WATER SURROUNDING IT.
>> WE'RE BURNING DIESEL FUEL
NOW, BACK THEN THEY WOULD BURN
WOOD ALL, WHATEVER THEY HAD
AVAILABLE.
THERE'S A FURNACE ROOM WITH A
@█
FLAME THIS BOILS THE WATER TO
MAKE THE STEAM LIKE COOKING
PASSTA.
VERY SIMPLE.
>> HOW ARE YOU, SNIR.
>> DOING GREAT.
>> HONORED TO IN THE PILOT
HOUSE.
>> WELL, IT IS AN UNUSUAL HONOR.
USUALLY OUR GUESTS DON'T MAKE IT
UP TO TOWN.
>> WHAT A PRIVILEGE.
AND I EXPECTED THIS SEE THIS.
>> DO DO YOU THAT AS THEY DID AT
THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY?
>> YES, BUT I CAN STEER THE
VESSEL BY HAND USING THIS, WHICH
THERE IS A CABLE WRAPPED AROUND
THE BACK TO GO DOWN TO THE
RUDDER BUS THIS VESSEL ALSO HAS
POWER STEERING EQUIPPED ON HERE,
AND THESE LEVERS, WILL OPERATE A
CYLINDER THAT'S ATTACHED TO THE
RUDDER SYSTEM, SO WE'LL PUSH THE
RUDDERS SO I DON'T HAVE TO DO
ALL OF THIS HARD WORK.
>> HAVING SPENT THE DAY
NAVIGATING THE RIVER WITH THIS
MAMA MAJESTIC LADY WHO PER
PERSEVERED THROUGH TRIALS AND IS
HERE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS I
HAVE A GREATER GENERATION FOR
THE BYGONE STEAM BOAT ERA.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT PART OF
THE STATE YOU'RE, IN DERBY
WEEKEND IS SPECIAL FOR ALL OF
US.
THE EYES OF THE WORLD ARE UPON
US, AND IT IS THE PERFECT
OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW OFF THE
BEAUTY OF OUR STATE IN
SPRINGTIME.
OUR RICH HISTORY AND TRADITIONS.
AND OUR FAMOUS KENTUCKY
HOSPITALITY, ALL AGAINST THE
BACK DROP OF THE MOST
PRESTIGIOUS HORSE RACE IN THE
WORLD.
WE HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED
TONIGHT'S SHOW.
AND THANKS FOR MAKING US A PART
OF YOUR DERBY CELEBRATION.