First contested in 1852, it has been held annually since 1859 with exceptions during major wars fought by the United States and the COVID-19 pandemic.

[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Originally rowed on Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire, it has since moved to the Thames River, near New London, Connecticut.

Although other locations for the race have included the Connecticut River at Springfield, Massachusetts, and Lake Quinsigamond at Worcester, Massachusetts, the Thames has hosted The Race on all but five occasions since 1878 and both teams have erected permanent training camps on the Thames at Gales Ferry for Yale and at Red Top for Harvard.

[10][11] On May 24, 1843, with the arrival of the shell Whitehall in New Haven, Yale University founded the first collegiate crew in the United States.

[13] These boat clubs served primarily a social purpose,[13] until Yale's 1852 issuance of a challenge to Harvard "to test the superiority of the oarsmen of the two colleges".

[11] Dr. James M. Whiton (Yale 1853 and one of the first three men to be awarded a PhD in the United States) and Joseph Mansfield Brown (Harvard 1853) were the prime movers in bringing about the race.

The idea of a race was suggested by James N. Elkins, the superintendent of the Boston, Concord and Montreal Railroad, during a train journey with Whiton.

The trophy oars were awarded to Harvard by General Franklin Pierce who in 1853 became the 14th President of the United States of America.

[17] The Hoyt C. Pease and Robert Chappell Jr. Trophies are awarded to the team that wins the majority of the three races.

Previously used for a discontinued event in this regatta, it was redesignated in 1983 to be awarded to the victor in the junior varsity contest.

The James Snider Cup is awarded to the winning crew of the Combination race of the Harvard–Yale Regatta, which is held annually in New London, Connecticut.

The Combination crews are typically composed of rowers from the third varsity and second freshman boats of their respective programs.

In 1995 and 1996 Jamie served as an assistant coach of the Yale Women's Crew, leading the 1995 Third Varsity to a 10–4 record.

After becoming an assistant with the Men's Heavyweight squad, Jamie led the 1997 Third Varsity Crew to an undefeated season, an Eastern Sprints Gold Medal, and a victory in the Combination Race of the Harvard–Yale Regatta.