NBC earned a 4.8 overnight Nielsen rating for the race segment of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday from 6:15-7:00pm ET, which saw Ruler On Ice get the victory despite long-shot odds. The net's first Belmont Stakes telecast since '05 is up 55% from a 3.1 overnight last year on ABC, which measured from 5:30-7:00pm. NBC also earned a 2.6 overnight for pre-race coverage 5:00-6:15pm, up 86% from a 1.4 overnight for pre-race coverage last year. Ft. Myers-Naples led all U.S. markets with an 8.7 local rating, followed by an 8.6 rating for Louisville and Baltimore (NBC). In St. Petersburg, Tom Jones writes, "The best television event coverage of the weekend goes to NBC, this time for its sensational broadcast of Saturday's Belmont Stakes. It really is stunning just how good NBC's horse racing coverage is." The production and planning are "first-rate" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 6/13). USA TODAY's Michael Hiestand writes, "NBC's solid Belmont Stakes coverage included a classic post-race interview, on horseback, between NBC's Donna Brothers and winning jockey Jose Valdivia, who mixed charming emotions with plenty of insights on what happened in the race. Good stuff" (USA TODAY, 6/13).
