NBC to Televise Kentucky Oaks in Prime Time

Next spring, NBC Sports will televise the 2026 Kentucky Oaks (G1), the sister race to the Kentucky Derby (G1), during its prime-time evening hours for the first time, Churchill Downs Inc. announced July 24.

Contested May 1 at Churchill Downs, the day before the Kentucky Derby, the Oaks will be televised between 8-9 p.m. ET, CDI CEO Bill Carstanjen said on a conference call with investors and stock analysts while discussing CDI's second-quarter financial returns.

"Previously, the race had been run between 5 and 6 p.m. and televised on an affiliated cable network (USA Network) with more limited distribution and viewership," Carstanjen added. "We believe the move to prime-time coverage on NBC will serve as a catalyst for increased viewership and wagering. This enhanced visibility also strengthens the event's appeal to current and prospective sponsors.

"Positioning the Oaks in prime time also creates a compelling lead-in to the Kentucky Derby, further amplifying awareness, engagement, and wagering around our flagship event."

Sunset in Louisville, Ky., on May 1 will be at 8:35 p.m., but Churchill Downs has a lighting system that can be utilized if daylight is diminishing. It runs numerous nighttime cards each spring. Churchill Downs did not announce when racing would begin on the day of the Kentucky Oaks.

There are typically fewer sporting events on Friday evenings compared to Saturdays.

"With the Oaks on Friday night leading into the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May, we can't wait to get back to Churchill Downs for another historic weekend of racing," Jon Miller, president of acquisitions and partnerships for NBC Sports, said in a release.

A later finishing time on the evening of the Kentucky Oaks means a shorter turnaround time for clean-up and restocking crews at Churchill Downs, who must ready the facility for Kentucky Derby Day. This year, 100,910 people attended the Oaks and 147,406 the Derby.

NBC Sports' milestone 25th presentation of the Kentucky Derby this spring delivered an NBC Sports-record average of 17.7 million viewers on NBC and Peacock—marking the largest Kentucky Derby audience since 1989 and a 6% increase from last year. The audience peaked at 21.8 million viewers.

In May 2024, NBC Sports and Churchill Downs announced a multiyear extension of their historic partnership.

"We want to drive handle. We want to drive national awareness. We want to drive sponsorship opportunities," Carstanjen said of moving the Oaks to prime time. "And we think it's a great springboard to remind people that the Kentucky Derby is the next day."