Kentucky Derby viewership posts 21-year high
NEW YORK (AP) -More than 16 million people watched Super Saver's win in the Kentucky Derby, making it the most-watched Derby in 21 years.
NBC's three-hour telecast of the race averaged 16.5 million viewers and drew a 9.8 rating according to the network. The rating was on par with last year's rating, when Mine That Bird stunned the field as a 50-1 long shot.
The average viewership was the highest since 1989, when 18.5 million watched Sunday Silence win the Run for the Roses.
Ratings for the race have risen 50 percent over the last decade.
NBC will televise the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, on March 15.
HORSE headlines
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- Santa Anita goes back to 4-day race week
- Repreive wins the Aqueduct feature
- Road to The Kentucky Derby
- Worth Repeating wins Tokyo City Cup at Santa Anita
- Animal Kingdom surges to win in Spiral Stakes
- Pants On Fire takes Louisiana Derby
- R Betty Graybull wins the Big A's Ladies Handicap
- Japan's Victoire Pisa wins Dubai World Cup
- Rewilding wins $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic
- Presvis wins $5 million Dubai Duty Free
- Khawlah wins $2 million UAE Derby
- Kinsale King out of Dubai Golden Shaheen
- Purrfect Bluff wins Big A feature
- Trainer Bob Baffert out of Dubai's big horse race
- Sweet Ducky may run in Kentucky Derby
- Calle Vista wins Santa Anita feature
- Devilish Spirit wins Big A feature
- World's richest race has wide-open 14-horse field
- No clear favorite at Dubai World Cup
- Dubai World Cup offers relief for Japan
- Buena Vista heads Japan challenge at World Cup
- Who's the Cowboy wins the Big A feature
- Gio Ponti among 14 horses entered for World Cup
- Village People's Derby choice: Mucho Macho Man
- Juniper Pass takes San Luis Rey at Santa Anita
- Prince Dubai wins Big A feature
- Road to The Kentucky Derby
- Malibu Pier, Bejarano win Santa Ana at Santa Anita
- The Factor easily wins Derby prep Rebel Stakes
