The NBC Sports broadcast of the Preakness S. (G1), in which Shackleford
(Forestry) held off Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux
[Brz]) by a half-length, drew 8.8 million viewers, a gain of 5 percent over last
year’s race and the second most-watched Preakness in five years, according to
official national data provided Tuesday by The Nielsen Company.
The race portion of the Preakness (5:56-6:41 p.m. [EDT]) drew 8.8 million
viewers, 5 percent more than last year’s race (8.4 million) and the second
most-watched Preakness race in five years, topped only by the much-hyped boys
vs. girls showdown in 2009 when filly Rachel Alexandra — with jockey Calvin
Borel — beat Mine That Bird, who Borel rode to victory in the Kentucky Derby.
The national rating for Saturday’s race portion was a 5.6 with a 13 share, up
6 percent from last year’s 5.3/13 and the second highest in five years.
NBC Sports coverage of this year’s Preakness reached more than three million
more viewers than the last Preakness broadcast by ABC in 2000 (8.8 million vs.
5.5 million, up 60 percent).
Since NBC Sports began broadcasting the Preakness in 2001, every Preakness
telecast on NBC over that period attracted more viewers than any Preakness
telecast on ABC in the previous seven years. Viewership for the Preakness is up
an average of 63 percent in the 11 years on NBC compared to the previous eight
years on ABC.
NBC Sports Group presents 6 1/2 hours of coverage of the 143rd Belmont Stakes
beginning Friday, June 10, as Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom and Preakness
Stakes winner Shackleford could face each other.