Kentucky Derby Peaks at Record-Breaking 21.8 Million Viewers for NBC

Saturday’s live coverage of the 151st Kentucky Derby on NBC garnered its highest audience since 1989, with an average of 17.7 million viewers tuning in. The viewership peaked at 21.8 million, setting a new record for the network.

NBC Sports also saw a surge in online viewership, with Peacock leading the pack among streaming services. The 151st Derby became the most-watched horse racing event on NBC Sports’ digital platforms, drawing an Average Minute Audience of 959,000 viewers. Over the last 12 Derbys, NBC has consistently attracted an average of over 15 million viewers across all platforms.

The highlight of the day was Soverignty’s victory at the Kentucky Derby, ridden by Junior Alvarado. The horse took home a prize of $3.1 million, marking Alvarado’s first win at the prestigious event.

Among the top finishers were Journalism, Baeza, and Final Gambit, with a total of 19 horses competing in the race. Going into the Derby, Journalism was the favorite with odds of 7/2, followed by Sandman and Luxor Cafe.

In addition to the top contenders, other horses that participated in the 151st Kentucky Derby included Citizen Bull, Neoquos, American Promise, and more.

The total prize pool for the Derby was $5 million, with the top five finishers sharing the winnings. Second place received $1 million, third place got $500,000, fourth took home $250,000, and fifth received $150,000. Alvarado, the winning jockey, earned 10% of the first-place prize, equating to $310,000.