 The Boat Race is a side @-@ by @-@ side rowing competition between the University of Oxford ( sometimes referred to as the " Dark Blues " ) and the University of Cambridge ( sometimes referred to as the " Light Blues " ) . First held in 1829 , the race takes place on the 4 @.@ 2 @-@ mile ( 6 @.@ 8 km ) Championship Course on the River Thames in southwest London . The rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities and followed throughout the United Kingdom and broadcast worldwide . Cambridge went into the race as reigning champions , having won the 1998 race by three lengths , with Cambridge leading overall with 75 victories to Oxford 's 68 ( excluding the " dead heat " of 1877 ) . 
 The Boat Race <a href='drop_aux' title='1'><mark>is</mark></a>a side @-@ by @-@ side rowing competition between the University of Oxford ( sometimes referred to as the " Dark Blues " ) and the University of Cambridge ( sometimes referred to as the " Light Blues " ) . First held in 1829 , the race <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>takes</mark></a> place on the 4 @.@ 2 @-@ mile ( 6 @.@ 8 km ) Championship Course on the River Thames in southwest London . The rivalry <a href='drop_aux' title='3'><mark>is</mark></a>a major point of honour between the two universities and followed throughout the United Kingdom and <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>broadcast</mark></a> worldwide . Cambridge went into the race as reigning champions , <a href='been_done' title='5'><mark>having</mark></a> won the 1998 race by three lengths , with Cambridge leading overall with 75 victories to Oxford <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>68 ( excluding the " dead heat " of 1877 ) . 
Da Boat Race a side @-@ by @-@ side rowing competition between tdaUniversity of Oxford ( sometimes referred to as thda Dark Blues " ) and the University of Cambridge ( sometimes referred to as the " Light Blues " ) . First held in 1829 , thedace take place on the da.@ 2 @-@ mile ( 6 @.@ 8 km ) Championship Course on the Rdar Thames in southwest London . The ridary a major point of honour between the two universities and followed throughout the United Kingdom and broadcasted worldwide . Cambridge went into the race as reigning champions , done won the 1998 race by three lengths , with Cambridge leading overall with 75 victories to Oxford  68 ( excluding the " dda heat " of 1877 ) .