NBC anticipates "big ratings" for Saturday's Belmont Stakes, and hopes American Pharoah's pursuit of the Triple Crown "will spark interest" for the race, according to Dan Caesar of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. Viewers tuned in last year, when California Chrome "failed in his bid" for the Triple Crown, as NBC saw the "second-highest Belmont rating ever, behind only another unsuccessful try" by Smarty Jones in '04. While the "focus will be on American Pharoah, those producing the telecast say they will try for some balance." NBC Sports Coordinating Producer Rob Hyland said, "No one is rooting for American Pharoah, people are rooting for a Triple Crown, and to me that’s the challenge. And I’ve challenged our entire production team as we’ve gone through the format over the last couple weeks to really make sure it is a balance to provide the viewer with the story of American Pharoah as well as the other seven horses in the race." Caesar notes segments planned for the telecast include Bob Costas’ "essay on why it has been so hard to win the Triple Crown," as well as a "feature by Josh Elliott on American Pharoah’s trek to the Triple Crown and his trainer Bob Baffert, who makes his fourth try for the triple." The net also will take a "look at American Pharoah jockey Victor Espinoza," a former bus driver in Mexico who rode California Chrome last year (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 6/5).
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BELMONT STAKES AUDIENCE TREND WITH HORSE CHASING TRIPLE CROWN
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YEAR
|
NET
|
RATING
|
VIEWERS (000)
|
WINNER |
HORSE SEEKING TRIPLE CROWN |
|
'14
|
NBC
|
12.0
|
20,600
|
Tonalist |
California Chrome |
|
'08
|
ABC
|
8.2
|
13,096
|
Da'Tara |
Big Brown |
|
'04
|
NBC
|
13.1
|
21,889
|
Birdstone |
Smarty Jones |
|
'03
|
NBC
|
10.7
|
15,703
|
Empire Maker |
Funny Cide |
|
'02
|
NBC
|
8.4
|
12,410
|
Sarava |
War Emblem |
|
'99
|
ABC
|
6.0
|
7,950
|
Lemon Drop Kid |
Charismatic |
|
'98
|
ABC
|
5.9
|
8,016
|
Victory Gallup |
Real Quiet |
|
'97
|
ABC
|
5.3
|
7,148
|
Touch Gold |
Silver Charm |
| |
|
|
|
|
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WHAT A LONG, STRANGE TRIP IT'S BEEN: On Long Island, Neil Best writes, "One could argue the search for a Triple Crown winner provides annual juice to the sport." But one "could argue more persuasively that this thing has gone on so long now that racing and its Triple Crown TV partner have reached the point of diminishing returns." NBC's Tom Hammond, who will call the race, said, "The audience no doubt will be huge for this, and so it will be a shot in the arm for racing, and I think it would be better than just to keep waiting, keep waiting" (
NEWSDAY, 6/5).
BACK IN THE SADDLE? In Boston, Chad Finn notes NBC thoroughbred reporter Bob Neumeier, who suffered a stroke in October, "contributed a taped segment for NBC’s Kentucky Derby coverage May 2, then joined the network’s live coverage of the Preakness Stakes May 16." What he "has not done is the 'walkover,' the ceremonial segment before a race when the horses are walked from the barns to the paddock and interviews on the move are conducted by a reporter." Neumeier is "hoping that will be among his responsibilities during Saturday’s broadcast, but it’s something he will discuss" with Hyland "before making a final decision." He said, "We mutually decided for the Derby that the timing wasn’t right (to contribute to the live coverage). The event itself is so big and so out of control, so we decided to take a pass. The Preakness is a little less so, but the Preakness walkover is a bear. We decided we should skip that, and we did. I did everything else and I think it went well." He added, "At the Belmont, the walkover is shorter and a little less intense. I’m all for doing it because right now my balance is getting better" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/5).
