Preakness Stakes Television Ratings Decline

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/20/2025 - 13:45
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Preakness Stakes Television Ratings Decline
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
The field passes the stands for the first time in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course

With the May 17 Preakness Stakes (G1) impacted by the absence of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Sovereignty , viewership of the second jewel of the Triple Crown dipped this year. An average of 5.9 million viewers watched Journalism 's win in the 150th Preakness Stakes from 7-7:15 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, and 4.6 million viewers tuned in over a longer portion from 6:35-7:25 p.m., according to NBC Sports.

Last year, viewership peaked at 7 million and was 5.5 million over a larger period. Viewership is highest during the race itself and the moments afterward.

This year's Preakness featured an exciting finish, with Journalism rallying furiously to victory after exchanging bumps in traffic in the early stretch.

Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan  raced in the 2024 Preakness, finishing second behind Seize the Grey  . Last year's viewership represented the event's largest audience since 2021.

NBC said the 2025 Preakness was Saturday's most-watched sports event, though, unlike the Derby this year, viewership fell.

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Viewership numbers do not reflect the scores of racing fans who watch the race via track-feed simulcasts. Preakness Day betting rose this year.

NBC televises the first two legs of the Triple Crown—the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. FOX Sports has the rights to the closing leg of the Triple Crown, the June 7 Belmont Stakes (G1), a race expected to lure Sovereignty and potentially Journalism and other top 3-year-old Thoroughbreds. NBC's contract to televise the Preakness continues through 2026.