NBC’s Kentucky Derby Coverage Peaked at 19.0 Million Viewers just after 80-1 Longshot Rich Strike Crossed Finish Line – Largest Derby Peak Audience since 2017

2022 Kentucky Derby is NBC’s Most-Watched Program since Super Bowl Sunday

Led by Peacock, 2022 Kentucky Derby is Most Streamed “Run for the Roses” Ever; More than 36 Million Views of Race Replay on NBC Sports’ Social Media Platforms

 The Preakness Stakes is Sat., May 21 at 4 p.m. ET on NBC & Peacock 

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Sunday MLB Leadoff is Most-Watched Regular-Season Sunday Day Game since 2019 

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 10, 2022 – NBC Sports’ presentation of the 148^th Kentucky Derby, a thriller won by 80-1 longshot Rich Strike, averaged a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 16.0 million viewers – marking the eighth consecutive year that the event topped the 15-million mark, excluding pandemic-impacted events. In addition, NBC Sports delivered impressive audiences for the debut of its MLB Sunday Leadoff package and Sunday’s USFL game.

Additional viewership highlights from weekend NBC Sports coverage:

• • With 16.0 million viewers, the 2022 Kentucky Derby is the most watched “Run for the Roses” since 2019 and marks an 8% increase from last year’s event (14.9 million on Sept. 5).

• • Viewership peaked at 19.0 million viewers from 7-7:15 p.m. ET on NBC, shortly after Rich Strike mounted his astounding closing charge to cross the finish line as the winner – marking the largest Kentucky Derby peak audience since 2017, ahead of the 18.5 million for the controversial 2019 disqualification of Maximum Security.

• • The TV-only average audience of 15.8 million viewers is NBC’s most-watched program since Super Bowl Sunday.

• • Led by Peacock, which live streamed the Kentucky Derby for the first time, the event posted a record Average Minute Audience (AMA) of 247,300 viewers across NBCUniversal streaming platforms.

• • The overhead replay of the race with Larry Collmus’ call has been viewed more than 36 million times across NBC Sports’ flagship Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok handles and the NBC Sports YouTube channel – the most-viewed Kentucky Derby video ever on NBC Sports’ social media platforms and six times the consumption of Justify’s Triple Crown-winning run in the 2018 Belmont Stakes (six million views). In addition, the video is the most-viewed moment ever for NBC Sports’ TikTok account (11.6 million views).

• • The NBC-TV household rating for the broadcast (6:31-7:21 p.m. ET) was a 7.7/24.

• • The debut of MLB Sunday Leadoff on Peacock and NBC averaged a Total Audience Delivery of 1.34 million viewers, marking the most-watched regular-season Sunday day game since 2019 (Yankees-Red Sox in London, ESPN, 6/30/19).

• • Following baseball, Sunday’s Houston-New Orleans USFL matchup averaged a TAD of 1.17 million viewers, to rank as NBC Sports’ most-watched USFL game since the season’s opening weekend.

Total Audience Delivery is based upon live-plus-same day figures from Nielsen and digital data from Adobe Analytics.

147TH PREAKNESS STAKES ON NBC SPORTS, MAY 21: In two weeks, Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike attempts the next step in his Triple Crown quest. NBC Sports’ coverage of The 147th Preakness Stakes from Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Md., begins with the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes on Friday, May 20, at 5 p.m. ET on USA Network.  NBC Sports presents The Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 21, at 4 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, with coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ET on CNBC.

PREAKNESS STAKES COVERAGE
Date	Time	Event	Network
Fri., May 20	5 p.m.	Black-Eyed Susan Stakes	USA Network
Sat., May 21	2 p.m.	Preakness Saturday	CNBC
Sat., May 21	4 p.m.	Preakness Stakes	NBC, Peacock

 

TOP METERED MARKETS FOR 2022 KENTUCKY DERBY (Race Portion)

1.	Louisville	28.5/63
2.	Ft. Myers	18.7/41
3.	Cincinnati	16.2/45
4.	West Palm Beach	14.3/36
T5.	Buffalo	11.5/29
T5.	Baltimore	11.5/33
7.	Knoxville	11.2/26
8.	Pittsburgh	10.9/28
T9.	Providence	10.7/27
T9.	Hartford	10.7/28

 

–NBC SPORTS–

Seven-Time NASCAR Cup Series Champion & Current NTT INDYCAR SERIES Driver Jimmie Johnson to be Featured During Derby Day Coverage

NBC News, E! News & The Kelly Clarkson Show to Feature Kentucky Derby Segments This Week as NBCUniversal Surrounds Derby Day

Veteran Horse Racing Handicapper Michelle Yu to Join NBC Sports’ Coverage this Weekend

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 5, 2022 – NBCUniversal presents a comprehensive slate of content and promotion ahead of and during the 148^th Kentucky Derby this Saturday, May 7, at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock live from iconic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. NBC Sports’ complete programming details surrounding its coverage of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks are available here.

In preparation for the Derby, NBC Sports asked a number of celebrities and NBCUniversal personalities for their race picks, including Blake Shelton (The Voice), Seth Meyers (Late Night With Seth Meyers), Heidi Klum (America’s Got Talent), Andy Cohen (Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen), Amber Ruffin (The Amber Ruffin Show) and more. Their picks will be revealed during Kentucky Derby coverage this Saturday on NBC and Peacock.

Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and current NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver Jimmie Johnson will be featured during Saturday’s coverage and will compete in his first Indianapolis 500 this month on Sunday, May 29 (11 a.m. ET on NBC). Professional WWE Raw wrestlers Bianca Belair and Montez Ford, who are married, will join NBC News’ Dylan Dreyer and E!’s Zanna Roberts Rassi on Derby Day for a fashion segment.

Veteran horse racing handicapper Michelle Yu will join NBC Sports’ Kentucky Oaks coverage this Friday on USA Network. Yu, who is based at Santa Anita Park, has worked on horse racing coverage for TVG, HRTV, Breeders’ Cup and Fox during her career.

A wide range of NBCUniversal properties will join NBC Sports in celebrating the cultural and entertainment spectacle that is the Kentucky Derby. A summary of Kentucky Derby Week activities and activations are below:

NBC NEWS: NBC News’ Dylan Dreyer, who has previously been part of NBC Sports’ Kentucky Derby and Royal Ascot horse racing coverage, and E!’s Zanna Roberts Rassi will serve as fashion correspondents during Saturday’s Derby coverage. Dreyer will also join chef Marcus Samuellsson for a cooking segment. TODAY will have a trio of guests join the show on-site from Churchill Downs on Friday: Mike Tirico, Steve Kornacki, and Dreyer.

E! NEWS: E! News integrated a Kentucky Derby promotion featuring chef Kelsey Barnard Clark during Daily Pop.

PREMIER LEAGUE: NBC Sports’ Premier League studio show, Premier League Mornings and Premier League Live, will be presented live from Churchill Downs this Saturday. Rebecca Lowe will host alongside analysts Robbie Earle, Robbie Mustoe, and Tim Howard from the paddock at the legendary racetrack. Lowe, who was part of NBC Sports’ 2019 Kentucky Derby team, will serve as a feature host on the “Run for the Roses” coverage following the Premier League matches. Click here for more details.

MLB SUNDAY LEADOFF: Players from the first MLB Sunday Leadoff matchup this Sunday between the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox at 11:30 a.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, including Red Sox outfielder/designated hitter J.D. Martinez, made race picks.

THE KELLY CLARKSON SHOW: Chef and Kentucky native Damaris Phillips joined The Kelly Clarkson Show for a Kentucky Derby food and drink segment that featured hats from milliner Christine A. Moore.

XFINITY REWARDS: “Down and Derby at Churchill Downs – an Xfinity Rewards Experience” stars NBC Sports’ Kentucky Derby insights analyst Steve Kornacki and NBC Sports’ “Bet the Edge” co-host Drew Disnick in Kentucky Derby food, drink and betting themed segments. The specials will be available exclusively for Xfinity Rewards members beginning tonight at 8 p.m. ET as well as on-demand on the X1 Platform.

CNBC: NBC Sports’ Kentucky Derby host Mike Tirico will join CNBC’s Fast Money Halftime Report on Friday.

UNIVERSAL PICTURES: Rexy from Jurassic World Dominion will make a special appearance during Derby Day coverage promoting to the much-anticipated premiere of the film on June 10, 2022.

THE DAN PATRICK SHOW: Mike Tirico will join The Dan Patrick Show on Friday morning to preview the Kentucky Derby.

NBC SPORTS EDGE: “Bet the Edge,” NBC Sports’ betting-focused podcast, co-hosted by Sara Perlman and Drew Dinsick, continues to have daily Kentucky Derby previews throughout the week and will feature NBC Sports’ Kentucky Derby reporters Britney Eurton and Kenny Rice. Dinsick will also be joined on-site at Churchill Downs by Steve Kornacki and Randy Moss for handicapping segments across NBC Sports EDGE digital platforms.

NBC AFFILIATES, OWNED STATIONS AND NBC SPORTS REGIONAL NETWORKS: Kentucky Derby promotions will air throughout the week on NBC Affiliates, Owned Stations and NBC Sports Regional networks across the country, with analysis and commentary from NBC Sports’ horse racing team on local newscasts. Local coverage will also include home Derby Party experiences.

EVERY PLATFORM, EVERY MOMENT: NBC Sports will be everywhere on every social media platform during Derby Week, bringing fans closer to the first leg of the Triple Crown. Follow @NBCSports on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for live looks around Churchill Downs during this once-in-a-lifetime event.

NBC SPORTS AUDIO: The NBC Sports Audio Network will present a full day of live Kentucky Derby coverage, produced by SiriusXM, on Saturday, May 7, beginning at 10 a.m. ET on NBC Sports Audio (channel 85 on SiriusXM radios and the SXM App). A three-hour pre-race show, hosted by Patrick Meagher live from Churchill Downs, begins at 3 p.m. ET, followed by NBC Sports’ coverage of the 148^th “Run for the Roses” from 6-7:30 p.m. ET. NBC Sports’ Larry Collmus will handle the live race call. This is the first year NBC Sports and SiriusXM have teamed to produce audio coverage of the Kentucky Derby.

NBCSPORTS.COM & NBC SPORTS APP: NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will stream live coverage to desktops, mobile, tablets, and connected TVs via authentication, giving consumers additional value to their subscription service, and making high-quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. The full HD-quality video stream will come directly from NBC’s broadcasts. NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app are available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox, and Chromecast.

NBC SPORTS AND HORSE RACING: NBC Sports is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Triple Crown, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001, and the Belmont Stakes since 2011, when NBC Sports reassembled the Triple Crown.

–NBC SPORTS–

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

 

Mike Tirico

Jerry Bailey
Randy Moss

Eddie Olczyk

Steve Kornacki

Larry Collmus

THE MODERATOR: Good afternoon, everybody. Thanks for joining today’s conference call for NBC Sports’ coverage of the Kentucky Derby. Coverage begins this Friday at 1:00 pm eastern on USA Network with a full day of Kentucky Oaks coverage, on Saturday at noon also on USA Network is our early Kentucky Derby day coverage, and then Saturday at 2:30 p.m. eastern on NBC and Peacock is our five-hour Kentucky Derby show.

Joining us today are Lindsay Schanzer, our senior horse racing producer; our host, Mike Tirico; analyst Randy Moss; two-time Derby winning analyst Jerry Bailey; handicapper Eddie Olczyk; the race caller, Larry Collmus; and back for a second time, our insights analyst from NBC News, Steve Kornacki.

With that, I’ll turn it over to Lindsay Schanzer

LINDSAY SCHANZER: Hi, everyone. I want to start by saying I’m grateful to be part of this event this year. I’ve worked as a part of our Kentucky Derby production team for the past nine years, but I’m honored to mark my tenth year as a part of this production team for the first team as the lead producer of our coverage.

To me there is no day like the Kentucky Derby. It is a singular event in all of American sports and beyond, and after a crazy stretch of dramatic and controversial finishes, plus a September Derby in the middle of a pandemic and an empty Churchill Downs, we are looking forward to a full capacity venue and hopefully a great race with a true celebration in the winner’s circle.

As for coverage notes, we’ve got a great team in place for as what Dan mentioned will be over 12 hours of coverage. We’ve got 16 announcers who will cover every nook and cranny of this unique and special venue. We welcome back the duo of Rutledge Wood and Dale Earnhardt Jr., who will be conducting a Derby Day scavenger hunt of sorts and take you to places around this venue that hopefully you’ve never seen before and have a boat load of fun doing it.

As Dan mentioned, Steve Kornacki is back to take us through all the intricacies of horse racing and the Kentucky Derby specifically. We have Dylan Dreyer back. She’ll be joined by a new face to our team, Zanna Roberts Rassi, fresh off her work at the Met Gala last night. She is our fashion expert for the weekend, and she’s got the credentials to back it up.

We also have coverage originating from Churchill Downs on Saturday hosted by Rebecca Lowe, who will do the Football-Derby double, and when she’s done with her coverage on Premier League she’ll flip over and join our show, which we’re really excited about having her back.

We’re thrilled to bring this event to viewers across the country and the globe, and with over 50 cameras, including drone coverage to cover the full scope of the event and jockey cameras on the helmets of jockeys in the race, we think we’re in a position to give you and all of our viewers the best seat in the house.

MIKE TIRICO: Thanks, Dan. Thanks, Lindsay. Hi, everybody. I’ll be brief so you can have time to do questions with our analysts. I echo Lindsay’s statement. There’s no day like this in American sport. There’s no day like this in sports television. It’s such a unique mix of different elements.

It’s a pleasure to bring it to everyone at home. It’s one of those broadcasts you can have throughout the day, and it provides a little bit of something for everyone, from the person who only watches one horse race per year, to the heavy handicapper who’s interested in the intricacies of the sport and its biggest event.

I am thrilled that Lindsay is leading our team. I can’t think of anyone who is better experienced or positioned to handle this group of 16 announcers and 20 horses and one big event. We’re so excited to have her lead our team, and the team is the best part of it. From working with Jerry and Randy on the set, to Edzo and Steve and everybody on the call, the breadth of what this takes in is a fun day for a host, everything from 20 two-minute inquiries to what people are wearing.

It’s rare that you get all of that under one rundown for a TV show. That’s what makes the Derby special. Everyone says you have to come experience it. It’s a bucket list experience. I would love to find that out some day not working. It sounds like it’s a lot of fun for the people who are in the stands, and hopefully we can bring some of that to America through their TVs.

With that, I will toss it to Randy and Jerry. Randy, you first.

RANDY MOSS: A lot of fun storylines this year. A lot of good horses that we’re really looking forward to watching. Not just the Kentucky Derby, but the Kentucky Oaks on Friday as well is just a spectacular race.

But the Derby, you’ve got a guy in trainer Steve Asmussen that’s won more horse races in North America than any trainer in the history of the sport here and he’s never won the Kentucky Derby.

His owner Ron Winchell has run one of the top stables in the country; never has won the Kentucky Derby. Got a chance with a horse named Epicenter. Got a horse named Zandon that’s the program favorite. His trainer Chad Brown has been a champion trainer in this country; has never won the Kentucky Derby.

And two horses trained by a guy named Tim Yakteen who is I guess you could say subbing in a way for a trainer that’s famously not here at this Kentucky Derby, Bob Baffert. The two horses are Taiba, the Santa Anita Derby winner, and Messier, the Santa Anita Derby runner up.

And that’s not all, either. We’ve got a lot of other horses in here with a good chance to win. It makes for a really compelling race that we’re excited to bring you.

JERRY BAILEY: Randy is a storyline guy, but more to my kind of line of thinking, there are a couple of jockey stories in here.

Mike Smith, who’s won two Kentucky Derbys already, at age 56 is attempting to be the oldest jockey to win the Kentucky Derby. You also have, quote-unquote, a plethora of French riders in here. Not only Flavien Prat who rides the favorite; Florent Geroux, who is now the winner of last year’s Kentucky Derby.

We have other three other riders from France coming in to ride horses, so a lot of jockey storylines. I sat down this morning with Flavien Prat and Florent Geroux in the winner’s circle in the infield at Churchill Downs and brought back a flood of memories. And kind of like what Mike was referring to, he wished he could come see it as a fan, as a bucket list type of thing.

I actually was caught in that moment looking at the Twin Spires thinking how magnificent of an event this is, how majestic the grandstand is, and how special it is to be able to partake in this. I feel honored. I feel honored to be with the people I’m working with and this production team, and I will turn it over to Larry Collmus.

LARRY COLLMUS: Thank you, Jerry, and just mentioning this grand building, that’s where I am right now. I’m actually up in my calling spot where I’ll be calling the Kentucky Oaks on Friday and the Kentucky Derby on Saturday; getting a little practice in here right now.

This will be my 12th call of the Kentucky Derby, and I’ll tell you, the excitement and the nervous energy, they never wane. It’s going to be great to see a full house here and to have 150,000 plus people all around when you call that race and the challenge of following 20 three-year-old horses around the track with all the pageantry and the buzz around you.

It just is a lot of fun. There’s nothing quite like it, and I’m excited to be back and doing it and working with this great team. And as Randy said, not only do we have a tremendous Kentucky Derby on Saturday, but a Kentucky Oaks with just an amazing field on Friday. Some undefeated fillies and then just a great race.

So looking forward to both days and looking forward to calling all of the action here up on the top level. It’s great to be back because I get to see once again what it was like, and it’s a little quieter today on Tuesday, but it’s going to be raucous here on Friday and Saturday.

EDDIE OLCZYK: Larry, not only the voice of the Triple Crown but also moonlighting as a handicapper here recently, so might have to put his feet to the fire at some point here over the next couple of days.

It is great to be back again and part of this incredible team I’ve been just so blessed to be a part of since 2015. It’s just been an unbelievable ride to be a part of it and to be back again this year.

From a gambler’s point of view, from a handicapper’s point of view, the two cards, Oaks Day and Derby Day, you really have opportunities to go in a lot of different directions. Very deep fields. Some races look very formful, but opportunities to go ahead and to make some educated wagers and look to pad the bank roll from Friday to Saturday, and that’s something as a handicapper and as a horse player you really just gravitate to when you have full fields, so competitive, all of the Grade 1s, the top trainers, the top jocks, the top equine athletes all in the same place — it’s an exciting 24 hours, and it doesn’t seem like there’s enough time in between Oaks Day and Derby Day, but that’s why you start prepping a couple of days out.

In particular, the two big races, the Oaks and the Derby, and I think Randy alluded to it, not many people that have their pulse on specific races better than Randy Moss in our game. I think you could just kind of tell that you could go and make a case for a bunch of fillies on Friday and a bunch of colts on Saturday, and from a handicapper’s point of view, that really makes it very exhilarating and very exciting. Hopefully we can make some people some money on Saturday when they tune in to a full day of coverage.

Nobody does it better, and I’m just so humbled to be a part of this team, and it’s great to be back.

STEVE KORNACKI: I’d echo what everybody is saying. I feel very fortunate to get a chance to play a role with this team. I’ve been a fan of this sport as far back as I can remember. There’s always been something extra special about the Kentucky Derby. I think I have watched it pretty much every year since I was a kid. I’m the kind of person who will go and watch old Triple Crown races on YouTube kind of for the fun of it.

To actually get a chance to play a role in the broadcast of it, I just kind of feel very lucky and to get to work with this group.

Last year — first year getting to do it — one of my favorite memories is right after the Oaks standing next to Eddie. I’m sure Eddie won’t mind me sharing this. He had a pretty big Exacta ticket that he hit in that race, and he showed me the ticket and my eyes kind of bulged a little bit. I said, okay, way to go, Eddie.

So getting to see that in person was very cool, somebody I’ve been watching on TV for years. And just looking forward to hopefully contributing this year, looking at some of the patterns, some of the trends that have defined this race in recent years.

Certainly I know one we’re going to talk about it is since the points era kind of dawned in 2013 is how the winners have been horses who have been able to get on to the lead or near the lead early and have just stayed there, kind of raising the question of is this a year you finally see one of those pace collapses or does that recent history hold up.

One other thing I’m really eager to kind of track during the day Saturday is our friend Mattress Mack, after we saw him last year come in there and plop down all that money on Essential Quality.

A really cool thing I got to do last year was we could watch the real-time wagering in the win pool at Churchill, and you could see almost minute-by-minute, bet-by-bet for Mattress Mack how he was distorting the win pool by putting all that money on Essential Quality, maybe creating some value, some extra value around the other horses.

Looks like he might be up to something similar with Zandon this year, so really eager to see how that affects the betting pool.

Q. This is a question primarily for Jerry and Randy. I’ve asked Randy about this a little bit already, but with the two horses from Baffert’s barn, how big of a deal do you think it will be for them that he’s not directly involved? And then I’m interested to hear both of your thoughts on Tim Yakteen as a horseman.

JERRY BAILEY: I don’t think the horse is going to realize there’s much difference at all. They’ve got the same groom, the same exercise rider, the same assistant trainer, the same veterinarian, the same farrier, practically everything is the same. Same food, same routine.

They have training charts, these horses, and they’re big with 30 squares — one square for each day, when he gallops, when he walks, when he worked out faster, and that goes with the horse. Tim Yakteen the new trainer will know exactly what they’ve done and is probably mimicking that, so I don’t think the horses are going to notice anything.

RANDY MOSS: The reality in thoroughbred racing is there are a lot of trainers out there, a lot of them, that given an opportunity with a really good horse can do a great job.

Tim Yakteen has had some good horses, not Derby horses, but he’s had some good horses in his career and has done a good job with them. Look at the Santa Anita Derby. He finishes one-two with Taiba and with Messier.

Q. I’ll throw this out to anyone who wants to answer it. Randy and Jerry might have thoughts on this. Just curious your impressions of the kind of quick rise of Saffie Joseph and what he’s been able to do down in that Florida circuit and now bringing a horse to the Derby that looks like he’s got a real chance here.

JERRY BAILEY: Yeah, he started out with a relatively small stable. Randy will give you the backstory coming from Barbados and his dad was a trainer there, I guess. I was on a plane with him in 2019 going to Philadelphia for the Parx Derby, and that was his first major impact that day on national TV.

I think he had 20 horses or so at that point in time. It’s exploded. His stable has exploded, but he works hard. He’s recruited. He’s got a lot of nicer horses now. He’s focusing a lot more on young horses and he’s developed White Abarrio into a very nice horse. I think he does an excellent job, but it’s not without hard work.

RANDY MOSS: His father was a successful trainer in Barbados, Saffie was a successful trainer in Barbados, and he decided he wanted to come to the United States to try his luck in the U.S. in Florida. His father told him, ‘Don’t do it. It’s a bad idea. You’re successful here. It’s so competitive, so tough to succeed in America. You’ve got it made here. Why would you go and leave what you have here so far?’ And he said, ‘Well, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do and I feel like I have to try it.’

He came to the United States, came to Gulfstream Park, and early on pretty much fell flat on his face and called his dad back and said, you were right, I’m coming back to Barbados.

His dad said, no, you’re not. You’re going to stick it out there. You haven’t given it enough time. You’re there already, so keep going with it.

He turned it around and the stable is getting better and better every year, and now here he is with an excellent chance with White Abarrio.

Q. For Steve, you know that we live in very politicized times. It’s interesting to me that in some other areas, some other networks, anyone who’s connected to politics, even if they’re not an opinionist — and I know that’s not necessarily your role — but a lot of times the public does not want that person on a sports network, but you seem to not get any kind of — at least anecdotally — criticism about your role on NBC Sports properties, and I wondered just from your perspective why that is? Why you don’t think there’s been any push-back from someone from the, quote-unquote, political realm, being part of a sports program?

STEVE KORNACKI: I like to think that when it comes to politics and elections, that what I do is maybe for better or worse somewhat unique in political media these days in that I think, you know, I cover elections. I cover election results. I’m going to be covering tonight the results of the Ohio primary, mainly a Senate race, but a few others as well.

I think everything that I will say as I cover that I think I could say and would say on any outlet, left, right, middle, in between, because I think I’m covering the one thing that everybody on the left, everybody on the right, and everybody in the middle wants to know. They want to know who’s winning and they want to know who’s losing and they want to know why. If their side is losing, they want to know why that is and what they need to do to win. If they’re winning, they want to know why that is and what they need to do to keep winning.

I’m looking at elections. I’m trying to understand. I always say it’s sort of the presidential election every four years, to me, is America’s family photo, and we take one every four years and then we spend the entire next four years kind of breaking it down, state by state, county by county, neighborhood by neighborhood, and really getting a sense of who and what we are at that moment. And then we take another picture four years later, and that is kind of the business I am in, is sort of analyzing those family photos that emerge from elections.

I think one thing I’ve found is the way I talk about it, the way I break it down, the material I’m working with, I feel like it works with all audiences, because believe it or not, it can seem inconceivable in the incredibly polarized and tribalized times we live in today, but there are still some areas of common interests between the two sides, between the two tribes. I think I’m fortunate enough to work in that kind of zone of common interest.

Q. Lindsay, you’re obviously no stranger to sitting in the producer’s chair on big races. That includes Triple Crown races. For you, two parts: what do you think it’s going to feel like for you going to be taking that seat in the truck on Kentucky Derby race day? And in your experience sitting at the front bench so far in your career, what is the most memorable event that you’ve worked?

LINDSAY SCHANZER: What’s it going to feel like? I think hopefully given the experience that I’ve had it won’t feel too different, and I think part of the beauty of this job and the way it’s been set up for me is that I will be surrounded by people I’ve been working with in some capacity for 10 years.

That familiarity and that feeling of family, and I mean that when I say it, I’ll have Amy Zimmerman to my left and Drew Esocoff to my right, and they have been here for a lot longer than I have and doing this job. I think what it will feel like is a comfortable position with a lot of responsibility, and I’m sure there will be nerves, as I think my predecessors would say they had as well, but I think I’ll feel excited and grateful and really that sense of comfort and peace that comes with the people around you being the people that you call family and are really lucky to work with.

As far as my most memorable experiences in the chair, the ones that stick out will be from sort of smaller-tier events, let’s say, that you may not have watched. But early on in my career producing horse racing I think the first real kind of chaotic experience I had was at the Whitney several years back in an absolutely torrential downpour, deluge situation that caused a 45-minute rain delay. Not something I had planned for in the very detailed and scripted format.

I remember Nick Luck was hosting and I have this image burned into my mind of Rick and Randy and Jerry next to him, I believe holding a blue tarp up over their head. And I think we took the shot on camera and I’ll never forget it, this feeling of absolute madness as Britney Eurton and Matt Bernier were running around to collect various interviews. And it was one of the most fun experiences that I’ve had, but definitely one I’ll remember.

And the second one I’ll highlight is the Haskell a couple years back at Monmouth Park when we had planned a one-hour show on NBC and the heat index was so high that they took the racing out of our window entirely. So, we did a one-hour show on the network with no horse racing, and that one was special. Those are my standout memories.

Q. I think you answered the first part of my question which is id the Mattress Mack angle going to be part of the broadcast. So for Steve, unlike last year when there was pretty much a clear established favorite, is this a 50/50 election, and is Mattress Mack Maricopa County or Florida 2000, and I mean, what’s the math of his $4 million at play in the pools?

STEVE KORNACKI: Yeah, I’ll work on coming up with the right election analogy between now and Saturday for it, but last year it was so interesting because I think he made his last bet — he was doing it incrementally and he made his last bet at about 6 o’clock, a little bit less than an hour before post time.

At that point I remember we looked at the win pool, and if you took the Mattress Mack money out, there was almost identical sums of money on Essential Quality, Rock Your World, and Hot Rod Charlie. So, without the Mattress Mack money, they would have kind of been — if everybody else was still betting the same way, they would have been kind of coequal choices there, and instead obviously Essential Quality went off as the clear favorite.

What I’m looking at this year, to some it was a surprise, others I guess saw it coming, seeing Zandon established as the morning line favorite. If Mattress Mack is going to now go with Zandon as his horse, I’m wondering if that’s going to create some significant separation between Zandon and Epicenter, two horses I think if you look at both of them, you could make a case that Epicenter ought to be the favorite. You could certainly make a case that they’ve got a pretty equal chance of winning the Derby. Different running styles but maybe an equal chance.

Potentially if we see the kind of movement we saw last year with that Essential Quality money, he could create some real separation, and Zandon could be significantly lower priced, shorter priced than Epicenter, and maybe there ends up being some value around Epicenter that we didn’t necessarily think there would be, say, a month ago. So that’s one thing I’m looking at.

And then obviously just the other question, are there other horses? If so much money is coming in on Zandon, are there other places on the board where there’s some extra value of some horses maybe going into 10-1 or more who otherwise wouldn’t?

But it was a real eye opener to me last year when we did that math and we realized that — I think at the moment we did the math, technically, and I don’t think this was true when the race went off, but as of about 6:00 p.m. last year, technically Rock Your World would have been the favorite at the moment without the Mattress Mack money. It was that big of a difference.

Q. He has said that his promotion – the idea is to end up on the favorite. In talking more about Zandon, do you think he’s already decided or is that just kind of based on the morning line betting Zandon as the favorite?

STEVE KORNACKI: Yeah, no, I’m speculating that it would be Zandon based on Zandon being established as the morning line favorite. But Mattress Mack can be a man of surprises, so we’ll see where he goes somewhere else.

I know he also apparently will put some, apparently a very small amount on Smile Happy. He’s got the Run Happy connection there. Doesn’t sound like that’s going to be a significant amount. But whichever direction he chooses to go with the big money, we clearly saw last year how that can distort the win pool, and I’d anticipate seeing something similar this year.

Q. Mike, you’re at the set on the track; Larry, you’re in the race caller’s booth; and Eddie, you’re in a betting area. How do your surroundings impact the way you do all of your jobs on race day, especially this year with fans returning?

LARRY COLLMUS: It will make a difference for me for sure because with the last couple of years, and especially two years ago when the race was in September and seeing absolutely no one around and then last year with the limited crowd, it’s just a different buzz and a different feel. Now this year is going to be back to a full-fledged Kentucky Derby, and with that, you get all the different colors of clothing and everything that you see in the stands and a full infield and just lots of stuff around you that you try to keep from distracting you from following those 20 horses around the track that day.

Yeah, it adds a little bit. It makes it a little bit more fun and then a little bit more challenging at the same time.

EDDIE OLCZYK: Yeah, I think the adrenaline part of being amongst the betting crowd is something that hopefully comes across the air, not only from my vibe but I think the feel of the positioning of where I will be and Steve will be. The interaction of going with the fans and with the bettors and a lot of things that happen off of the cameras sometimes are even more engaging and exciting than when I get on the camera and talk about who I might like or why I’m going in a certain direction.

It does go to a whole ‘nother level when you have a whole boat load of people from every type of background, and to be able to feel the vibe and to have the windows there and to get in line every once in a while when Lindsay doesn’t want me on the air and go ahead and get my feet wet and have those tickets, and hopefully I can show a few more of those tickets to Steve this year and we can have some fun.

But there’s nothing like having fans in a building and being amongst them, and hopefully people will feel that and people will say, hey, geez, I’d love to be a part of that, and they get themselves an opportunity to get to the Derby or to the Preakness or the Belmont or the Breeders’ Cup. It’s quite the rush being there and then obviously building to the biggest races on each day.

MIKE TIRICO: I know for me, it’s funny when you said that. I just flipped through my phone real quick, I take a picture when the horses come around the first turn at the Derby every year from our set. We are very lucky, me, Randy and Jerry, our set is right on the first turn. We have fans — we’re up on the platform. Fans are about 10 feet below as they sit there, and we’re surrounded by fans almost everywhere you look.

That look back in ’21, there were a lot of people there. There were over 50,000. That was the largest gathering at that time. It was just great to see that many people. But then I look back to the picture in May of 2019 and May of 2018 and the place is jammed and the colors and the people and everything about it. I think it’s very additive to the energy of the day to have the constant buzz of fans right around you.

This is one advantage of where our set is on turn 1. We are, although raised up a little bit on a platform, right amongst the fans. You just get a sense of what their day is like, from eating to their feet hurting because of their shoes to their wardrobe is a little more rumpled than it was when they walked in through the gates at 11:00 in the morning, through their highs and lows of wagering through the day. It is such a cool event.

I had the chance to go to Augusta, as I do every year, and since the Masters was back at full steam with fans, I know it’s going to be the same way when we go to the Indy 500 at the end of the month, and I’m so excited for this because this will be probably as large a gathering in American sports as we’ve had since the pandemic, only to be topped at the end of the month by the 500 in Indianapolis.

I think the energy of being back amongst that larger group of fans will come through for all of us in our broadcast and our presentation. It’s a great question I hadn’t really given a lot of thought to, but it has me even more charged up to get there, be a part of Friday at Oaks Day when there are 100,000 people and then Saturday which is a once-a-year experience that is unmatched.

148^th“Run for the Roses” This Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC & Peacock

Dial 313-209-6544 to Participate

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 3, 2022 – NBC Sports’ Kentucky Derby team will preview this Saturday’s 148^th Kentucky Derby on a media conference call today, Tuesday, May 3, at 1 p.m. ET.

Participants include host Mike Tirico; analysts Randy Moss and Jerry Bailey, the Hall of Fame jockey and two-time Kentucky Derby winner; handicapper/reporter Eddie Olczyk; insights analyst Steve Kornacki; race caller Larry Collmus; and senior producer of NBC Sports’ Kentucky Derby coverage Lindsay Schanzer.

NBC Sports presents the 148^th Kentucky Derby this Saturday, May 7, at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock live from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Saturday’s live Derby coverage begins at Noon ET on USA Network. Kentucky Derby Week coverage gets underway with the Kentucky Oaks this Friday, May 6, at 1 p.m. ET on USA Network. Click here for more information on NBC Sports’ Kentucky Derby programming.

Media interested in participating should call 313-209-6544; Passcode: 2666453.

 

• WHAT: NBC Sports Kentucky Derby Conference Call
• WHO: Mike Tirico, Randy Moss, Jerry Bailey, Eddie Olczyk, Steve Kornacki, Larry Collmus, Lindsay Schanzer
• WHEN: Today, Tuesday, May 3, at 1 p.m. ET
• NUMBER: 313-209-6544
• PASSCODE: 2666453

 

148^th Kentucky Derby Post Positions

 

Gate                            Horse                                                  Morning-Line Odds

1                                  Mo Donegal                                       10-1

2                                  Happy Jack                                       30-1

3                                  Epicenter                                           7-2

4                                  Summer Is Tomorrow                      30-1

5                                  Smile Happy                                      20-1    

6                                  Messier                                               8-1

7                                  Crown Pride                                      20-1

8                                  Charge It                                            20-1

9                                  Tiz The Bomb                                    30-1

10                                Zandon                                               3-1

11                                Pioneer of Medina                            30-1

12                                Taiba                                                  12-1

13                                Simplification                                    20-1

14                                Barber Road                                      30-1    

15                                White Abarrio                                   10-1

16                                Cyberknife                                         20-1

17                                Classic Causeway                              30-1    

18                                Tawny Port                                        30-1

19                                Zozos                                                  20-1

20                                Ethereal Road                                   30-1

 

–NBC SPORTS–

148^th“Run for the Roses” This Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC & Peacock

Dial 313-209-6544 to Participate

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 2, 2022 – NBC Sports’ Kentucky Derby team will preview this Saturday’s 148^th Kentucky Derby on a media conference call tomorrow, Tuesday, May 3, at 1 p.m. ET.

Participants include host Mike Tirico; analysts Randy Moss and Jerry Bailey, the Hall of Fame jockey and two-time Kentucky Derby winner; handicapper/reporter Eddie Olczyk; insights analyst Steve Kornacki; race caller Larry Collmus; and senior producer of NBC Sports’ Kentucky Derby coverage Lindsay Schanzer.

NBC Sports presents the 148^th Kentucky Derby this Saturday, May 7, at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock live from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Saturday’s live Derby coverage begins at Noon E.T. on USA Network. Kentucky Derby Week coverage gets underway with the Kentucky Oaks this Friday, May 6, at 1 p.m. ET on USA Network. Click here for more information on NBC Sports’ Kentucky Derby programming.

Media interested in participating should call 313-209-6544; Passcode: 2666453.

• WHAT: NBC Sports Kentucky Derby Conference Call
• WHO: Mike Tirico, Randy Moss, Jerry Bailey, Eddie Olczyk, Steve Kornacki, Larry Collmus, Lindsay Schanzer
• WHEN: Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 3, at 1 p.m. ET
• NUMBER: 313-209-6544
• PASSCODE: 2666453

–NBC SPORTS–

 Saturday’s Coverage Kicks Off with Kentucky Derby Prep at Noon ET on USA Network

Live Coverage from Churchill Downs Begins with Five Hours of Kentucky Oaks Day Races This Friday, May 6 at 1 p.m. ET on USA Network

Peacock to Live Stream NBC’s Triple Crown Horse Races for the First Time

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 2, 2022 – NBC Sports presents the 148^th Kentucky Derby this Saturday, May 7 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock live from iconic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Road to the Triple Crown begins this week, highlighted by NBC Sports’ live five-hour Kentucky Derby Day show this Saturday, May 7 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. NBC Sports kicks off more than 12 hours of Kentucky Derby Week action this Friday, May 6 with live coverage of the Kentucky Oaks beginning at 1 p.m. ET on USA Network. Saturday’s live Derby coverage begins at Noon ET on USA Network. Over the two days, NBC Sports will televise 15 live races from Churchill Downs.

For the first time, Peacock will live stream NBC’s Triple Crown horse races this spring, beginning with this Saturday’s Kentucky Derby presentation. NBC Sports will present more than 20 hours of Triple Crown coverage across NBC, USA Network, CNBC, and Peacock this spring.

The 2022 Kentucky Derby features likely favorite Epicenter, who won this year’s Louisiana Derby (G2) in March and finished as the Kentucky Derby qualifying points leader. Also expected to contend are 2022 Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Taiba, this year’s Fountain of Youth (G2) winner Simplification, 2022 Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Zandon, and Messier, who finished second in this year’s Santa Anita Derby, and is named after NHL legend Mark Messier.

COMMENTATORS: NBC Sports’ coverage of the Kentucky Derby features host Mike Tirico, anchoring Derby coverage for the sixth time; analysts Jerry Bailey, the Hall of Fame jockey and two-time Kentucky Derby winner, and Randy Moss, who is covering the Derby for the 41^st time; handicapper/reporter Eddie Olczyk; host/reporter Ahmed Fareed; reporters Britney Eurton, Donna Brothers, Kenny Rice, and Nick Luck; and race caller Larry Collmus. Rebecca Lowe will serve as a feature host during Saturday’s “Run for the Roses” coverage after hosting Premier League studio shows, which will be presented live from Churchill Downs ahead of the Kentucky Derby.

Steve Kornacki, NBC News’ celebrated national political correspondent, joins NBC Sports’ Kentucky Derby coverage as an insights analyst for the second consecutive year. NBC Sports’ Tim Layden will deliver an essay.

NBC Sports’ Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Rutledge Wood will serve as lifestyle correspondents. NBC News’ Dylan Dreyer, who has previously been part of NBC Sports’ Kentucky Derby and Royal Ascot horse racing coverage, and E!’s Zanna Roberts Rassi, who makes her NBC Sports horse racing debut, will serve as fashion correspondents.

The senior producer of NBC Sports’ Kentucky Derby coverage is Lindsay Schanzer. The Kentucky Derby is directed by Drew Esocoff. The coverage on USA Network is produced by Billy Matthews and directed by Kaare Numme. Executive producer and president, NBC Sports Production is Sam Flood.

Highlights of Kentucky Derby coverage Saturday on NBC and Peacock include:

• • Five live races in the Kentucky Derby show on NBC and Peacock (15 live races over Friday’s and Saturday’s full coverage)
  • Discussion of the 2021 Kentucky Derby victory and subsequent disqualification of Medina Spirit and the suspension of Bob Baffert, and the impact it has had on the horse racing industry
  • Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Rutledge Wood’s “scavenger hunt” at Churchill Downs
  • Tim Layden delivers an essay on Crown Pride, a descendant of 1989 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Sunday Silence, and the rise of horse racing in Japan
  • Profile on trainer Tim Yakteen and his family, who have taken over the training of many of Bob Baffert’s horses, including Taiba and Messier in this year’s Derby field
  • Feature on Tami Bobo, the owner of Simplification
  • Conversation with two Derby-winning jockeys, who both hail from France and won under unusual circumstances: Florent Geroux (2021 on Mandaloun following the disqualification of Medina Spirit) and Flavian Prat (2019 on Country House following the disqualification of Maximum Security)
  • Kentucky Derby according to Three-Year-Olds: a segment in which children describe what they think of the Kentucky Derby, a race which features three-year-old horses
  • A live drone and two live jockey cam systems will be utilized in Derby coverage (among 50 total cameras)
  • Return of the 360 Glam Cam on the red carpet for celebrities to show off their Derby Day outfits and make their picks
  • A camera focused on race caller Larry Collmus
  • A POV camera in the judge’s room
  • NBC Sports EDGE’s sports betting-focused podcast, ‘Bet the Edge,’ co-hosted by Sara Perlman and Drew Dinsick, will have Kentucky Derby segments throughout the week.

 

2022 TRIPLE CROWN HORSE RACING SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES ET)
Date	Time	Event	Platform
Fri., May 6	1 p.m.	Kentucky Oaks	USA Network
Sat., May 7	Noon	Kentucky Derby early races	USA Network
Sat., May 7	2:30 p.m.	148th Kentucky Derby	NBC, Peacock
Fri., May 20	5 p.m.	Black-Eyed Susan	USA Network
Sat., May 21	2 p.m.	Preakness Stakes early races	CNBC
Sat., May 21	4 p.m.	147th Preakness Stakes	NBC, Peacock
Sat., June 11	3 p.m.	Belmont Stakes early races	CNBC
Sat., June 11	5 p.m.	154th Belmont Stakes	NBC, Peacock

 

KENTUCKY DERBY COVERAGE ON NBCSPORTS.COM & THE NBC SPORTS APP

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will stream live coverage to desktops, mobile, tablets, and connected TVs via authentication, giving consumers additional value to their subscription service, and making high-quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. The full HD-quality video stream will come directly from NBC’s broadcasts. NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app are available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox, and Chromecast.

NBC SPORTS AUDIO KENTUCKY DERBY COVERAGE

The NBC Sports Audio Network will present a full day of live Kentucky Derby coverage, produced by SiriusXM, on Saturday, May 7 beginning at 10 a.m. ET on NBC Sports Audio (channel 85 on SiriusXM radios and the SXM App). A three-hour pre-race show, hosted by Patrick Meagher live from Churchill Downs, begins at 3 p.m. ET, followed by NBC Sports’ coverage of the 148th “Run for the Roses” from 6-7:30 p.m. ET. NBC Sports’ Larry Collmus will handle the live race call. This is the first year NBC Sports and SiriusXM have teamed to produce audio coverage of the Kentucky Derby.

NBC SPORTS AND HORSE RACING: NBC Sports is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Triple Crown, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001, and the Belmont Stakes since 2011, when NBC Sports reassembled the Triple Crown.

–NBC SPORTS–

NBC Sports Presents the 148^th Kentucky Derby Live on Saturday, May 7 (2:30 p.m. ET on NBC & Peacock)

Schanzer, Who Will Oversee All Horse Racing Coverage, Has Produced NBC Sports’ Presentation of Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, Breeders’ Cup and Royal Ascot

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 21, 2022 – Award-winning producer Lindsay Schanzer has been named senior producer of NBC Sports’ Kentucky Derby coverage and will oversee all horse racing production, it was announced today by Sam Flood, Executive Producer & President, NBC Sports Production. NBC Sports will present the 148^th Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 7 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

“Lindsay has excelled in every role she has worked at NBC Sports, and we are excited to have her lead the presentation of the Kentucky Derby and our full roster of horse racing events,” Flood said. “With increased responsibility over the last decade on our horse racing team, Lindsay’s leadership, creativity, and innovative spirit have helped raise our production. We look forward to returning to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.”

Schanzer, who has worked on NBC Sports’ horse racing team for 10 years, has served as the lead producer of NBC Sports’ Preakness Stakes, Breeders’ Cup and Royal Ascot production since 2020, and produced last year’s Belmont Stakes.

A five-time Sports Emmy winner, Schanzer joined NBC Sports in 2011 and has also worked on Sunday Night Football, Football Night in America, Notre Dame Football, Wimbledon, Roland Garros, and Premier League. In addition, she was part of production teams for seven Olympic Games and one Super Bowl.

NBC Sports’ Lead Kentucky Derby Producers

Lead Producer	Years
Lindsay Schanzer	2022
Rob Hyland	2012-21
Fred Gaudelli	2011
Sam Flood	2006-10
David Michaels	2001-05

 

NBC SPORTS AND HORSE RACING: NBC Sports is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Triple Crown, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001, and the Belmont Stakes since 2011, when NBC Sports Group reassembled the Triple Crown.

— NBC SPORTS –

NBC Sports Presents the 148^th Kentucky Derby Live Saturday, May 7 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC & Peacock

Preakness Stakes is Saturday, May 21 at 4 p.m. ET, Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 11 at 5 p.m. ET – Both on NBC & Peacock

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 19, 2022 – Peacock will live stream NBC’s Triple Crown horse races for the first time this spring, beginning Saturday, May 7 at 2:30 p.m. ET, when NBC and Peacock present the 148^th Kentucky Derby. NBC Sports will present more than 20 hours of Triple Crown coverage across NBC, USA Network, CNBC and Peacock this spring.

Two weeks after NBC Sports’ five-hour Kentucky Derby show, Peacock will simul-stream NBC’s live broadcast of the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 21 at 4 p.m. ET. Then on Saturday, June 11 at 5 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock will present the Belmont Stakes.

Previously, Peacock live streamed NBC Sports’ coverage of the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Classic from Del Mar, Calif.

2022 TRIPLE CROWN HORSE RACING SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES ET)
Date	Time	Event	Platform
Fri., May 6	1 p.m.	Kentucky Oaks	USA Network
Sat., May 7	Noon	Kentucky Derby early races	USA Network
Sat., May 7	2:30 p.m.	148th Kentucky Derby	NBC, Peacock
Fri., May 20	5 p.m.	Black-Eyed Susan	USA Network
Sat., May 21	2 p.m.	Preakness Stakes early races	CNBC
Sat., May 21	4 p.m.	147th Preakness Stakes	NBC, Peacock
Sat., June 11	3 p.m.	Belmont Stakes early races	CNBC
Sat., June 11	5 p.m.	154th Belmont Stakes	NBC, Peacock

 

NBC SPORTS AND HORSE RACING: NBC Sports is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Triple Crown, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001, and the Belmont Stakes since 2011, when NBC Sports Group reassembled the Triple Crown.

 

– NBC SPORTS –

NBC’s TV-Only Kentucky Derby Coverage Peaked at 15.7 Million Viewers as Medina Spirit Raced to Victory, Delivering Bob Baffert’s Record 7^th Kentucky Derby Win

2021 Kentucky Derby Draws More Viewers Than All Awards Shows for First Time Ever & is NBC’s Most-Watched Program since NFL Divisional Playoffs in January

NBC Sports Digital Sets Kentucky Derby Record 

The Preakness Stakes is Sat., May 15 at 5 p.m. ET on NBC

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 4, 2021 – NBC Sports’ presentation of the 147^th Kentucky Derby averaged a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 14.5 million viewers as the “Run for the Roses” returned to its traditional first Saturday in May date – marking a 54% increase from last year’s event (9.4 million on Sept. 5), according to official national data provided by Nielsen and digital data from Adobe Analytics.

Viewership peaked at 15.7 million viewers from 6:45-7 p.m. ET on NBC as Medina Spirit mounted a wire-to-wire victory and trainer Bob Baffert won the event for a record seventh time.

The TV-only average audience of 14.4 million viewers topped all entertainment awards shows for the first time ever and marked NBC’s most watched broadcast since the NFL Divisional Playoffs in January.

NBC Sports Digital’s presentation of the Kentucky Derby delivered a record Average Minute Audience (AMA) of 139,300 viewers for the event via the NBC Sports app and NBCSports.com.

The NBC-TV household rating for the broadcast (6:31-7:18 p.m. ET) was a 7.1/22.

146TH PREAKNESS STAKES ON NBC SPORTS, MAY 15: In two weeks, Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit attempts the next step in his Triple Crown quest. NBC Sports’ coverage of The 146th Preakness Stakes from Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Md., begins Friday, May 14 at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN.  NBC presents The Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 15 at 5 p.m. ET, with coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

PREAKNESS STAKES COVERAGE
Date	Time	Event	Network
Fri., May 14	5 p.m.	Black-Eyed Susan Stakes	NBCSN
Sat., May 15	2 p.m.	Preakness Saturday	NBCSN
Sat., May 15	5 p.m.	Preakness Stakes	NBC

 

TOP METERED MARKETS FOR 2021 KENTUCKY DERBY (Race Portion)

1.	Louisville	28.7/59
2.	Ft. Myers	18.2/36
3.	Knoxville	16.2/30
4.	West Palm Beach	15.5/35
5.	Cincinnati	15.1/36
6.	Cleveland	14.9/35
7.	Detroit	14.0/32
8.	Providence	13.3/31
T9.	Indianapolis	13.1/32
T9.	Buffalo	13.1/29

 

–NBC SPORTS–