Preakness TV Rating Grows 6%

An additional half a million people tuned in to watch Exaggerator deliver Nyquist his first loss in the 141st Preakness Stakes (gr. I) compared with 2015, according to NBC.

The May 21 coverage averaged 9.4 million viewers, which is 6% more than watched eventual Triple Crown winner American Pharoah   at last year's Preakness. That broadcast attracted an average of 8.9 million viewers.

This year's Preakness coverage is the third time in four years that the middle leg of the Triple Crown has attracted more than nine million viewers. Oxbow  's victory in 2013 drew an average of 9.7 million viewers, while California Chrome  's victory attracted 9.6 million. NBC said a stretch of viewership this high for the Preakness has not been seen in a decade.

Viewership for this year's Preakness peaked at 11.4 million from 6:45-7 p.m. ET. The race posted a 5.8 rating/14 share, with the rating up 5% from last year's 5.5 rating/13 share.

Baltimore, home of Pimlico Race Course, was the top metered market with a 19.7 rating/38 share. NBC reported that Baltimore's viewership was 17% higher than in 2015 and was the city's highest rating since 2009. The next highest-ranked market was Louisville, Ky., with a 14.6 rating/28 share, up 23% from last year.

NBS Sports Live Extra also delivered 3.1 million minutes of live streamed coverage of the Preakness, which was 221% more time than in 2015 and seen by a record 115,000 unique users.

TOP METERED MARKETS (Race portion)

1.    Baltimore    19.7/38

2.    Louisville    14.6/28

3.    Ft. Myers    13.6/24

4.    Richmond    10.6/18

5.    West Palm Beach    10.4/19