Kentucky Derby gets highest TV ratings in 18 years
NEW YORK (AP) -The Kentucky Derby's television ratings are the highest in 18 years.
NBC says Saturday's coverage of Calvin Borel riding Super Saver to victory for the third time in four years drew a 10.3 overnight rating and a 23 share. That's up 1 percent from last year's 10.2/22, when 16.3 million viewers made 50-1 shot Mine That Bird's win the most-watched Derby in 20 years.
It's also an increase of seven percent from 9.5/21 in 2008 when Big Brown won.
It's the highest overnight rating since Lil E Tee won in 1992.
The rating is the percentage of all homes with televisions tuned into a program, while the share is the percentage of all TVs in use at the time. Overnight ratings measure the nation's largest markets.
Final viewership and national ratings will be announced Tuesday.
HORSE headlines
- J P's Gusto wins feature on final day at Del Mar
- Ky. approves random drug testing on race horses
- Gotta Have Her wins Del Mar's Palomar Handicap
- Pursue A Dream wins Remington's top turf race
- Mr Piloto wins All American Futurity
- One More Laugh wins $300,000 Cane Pace
- Twirling Candy wins Del Mar Derby
- R Heat Lightning wins Spinaway Stakes
- Get Serious sets Monmouth Park turf record
- Tell a Kelly wins Darley Debutante at Del Mar
- Madman Diaries wins Sapling Stakes
- Quality Road cruises to victory in Woodward
- Desormeaux off mounts with hairline fracture
- Long shot Haimish Hy takes El Cajon
- Hollywood Park to host Oak Tree meet in 2011
- BG's Folly scratched from Cane Pace on Monday
- Me Love edges Ms. Short Pockets in Monmouth race
- Quality Road favorite in Woodward at Saratoga
- Queen of the Creek, Awesome Maria win at Saratoga
- One More Laugh picked as favorite for Cane Pace
- Santa Anita moves its fall meet to Hollywood Park
- Hi Ho Yodeler wins at Del Mar
- Fancy Point wins at Saratoga
- National Pride takes $55,000 Spa feature
- Champ Pegasus wins Del Mar Handicap
- Upset at the Spa: Rachel beaten by 21-1 long shot
- Just Jenda wins Monmouth feature
- Gourmet Dinner wins Calder race
- Richard's Kid wins 2nd straight Pacific Classic
- Teaks North wins Monmouth feature
