NBC Digital drew an average minute audience of 132,800 viewers for the Kentucky DerbyGETTY IMAGES
NBC drew 8.4 million viewers on TV and streaming for the rescheduled Kentucky Derby on Saturday from 6:37-7:23pm ET, easily marking the least-viewed Run for the Roses on record. The prior low was 9.1 million in ’00 for Fusaichi Pegasus’ win, which was ABC’s final year with the race. This year was the first time since NBC acquired rights that the Derby dipped below 11 million viewers, a drop that was to be expected given the shift in the date for the race and a crowded sports docket. The Derby this year peaked at 9.8 million viewers. Local market figures are not yet available. NBC Digital drew an average minute audience of 132,800 viewers, marking the most-streamed horse race on record. While the Derby did hit an all-time low in audience, NBC’s telecast was the most-watched sporting event since the Super Bowl in February, and the most-watched sporting event on Labor Day weekend since ’17. The race also led into Game 7 of the Islanders-Flyers Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. That game drew 2.57 million viewers (TV + streaming), which is the best audience for an NHL playoff game for ’20 to date (Austin Karp, THE DAILY).
WAGERING PREDICTABLY DOWN: BLOODHORSE.com's Gregory Hall noted all-sources wagering on Kentucky Derby Day "declined by about half with no fans in attendance to provide on-track betting." The all-sources handle totaled $126M, which was "down 49.8%" from last year's $250.9M in early May and was the lowest since $123.2M in '02. On-track handle last year was $21.3M. All-sources betting on the Kentucky Derby was $79.4M, "down 52%" from last year's $165.5M. Churchill Downs "attributed the declines to the lack of on-track wagering, fewer horses per race," including in the Kentucky Derby that had 15 starters -- the smallest field since '98, and a "prohibitive favorite in the Derby" (BLOODHORSE.com, 9/5).
CROWDFUNDING TO THE TOP: In Louisville, Jon Hale noted Billionaire B. Wayne Hughes and his Spendthrift Farm are the "majority owner" of Derby winner Authentic, but "more than 4,000 micro-owners purchased $206 shares of Authentic before the race through MyRaceHorse.com, which owns 12.5% of the horse." Trainer Bob Baffert said that skier Bode Miller and Dodgers P Walker Buehler are among the micro-owners, while Spendthrift Farm Founder Michael Behrens noted that "several NASCAR drivers had also purchased shares of Authentic." Behrens said that the micro-owners "will each receive a pro-rata share of the winnings based on the amount of shares they purchased" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 9/6).
