Definition of "boat race"

The District went to Putney to take advantage of Boat Race traffic, and it would capitalise on the shows and exhibitions held at Earl's Court and Olympia.

2012, Andrew Martin, Underground Overground: A passenger's history of the Tube, Profile Books, page 60

"Now," Herbie says, dropping his voice away down low, in case old Cap Duhaine may be around somewhere listening, "it is the third race, and the horse is a horse by the name of Never Despair. It is a boat race," Herbie says. "They are going to shoo in Never Despair. Everything else in the race is a cooler," he says.

1944, Damon Runyon, “A Story Goes With It”, in Stories à la Carte