Kentucky Derby sets several TV ratings records

Field Level Media|published: Sun 3rd May, 20:26 2026

Golden Tempo reached to nip the lead as Cherie DeVaux takes him out of his stall after winning the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Sunday, May 3, 2026.

An estimated record 24.4 million people watched Golden Tempo's historic comeback win on Saturday at the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby.

NBC released that figure based on preliminary data collected from Nielsen and Adobe Analytics on Sunday.

The previous peak audience had been 21.8 million the year prior, meaning the 2026 running, in which jockey Jose Ortiz guided Golden Tempo from last place around the final turn all the way into first, was up 12% over the previous most-watched Derby.

Cherie DeVaux, the horse's trainer, became the first woman trainer to win the Kentucky Derby in the event's history Saturday.

NBC's presentation also delivered the event's highest average audience at 19.6 million, once again topping the previous year's 17.7 million by roughly 11%.

The streaming numbers, mostly directed through Peacock, represented yet another record, with an average minute audience (AMA) of 1.3 million viewers, clearing 2025's figure of 959,000.

Friday night's Kentucky Oaks, contested for the first time in the television primetime window, likewise set viewership records. Always A Runner's comfortable win averaged 2.4 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, a number that was four times higher than any previous viewership for the event (593,000 in 1997 on ESPN).

--Field Level Media