On to Belmont and on to the TRIPLE CROWN!!!!!
(now I'm definitely going to the Belmont!!!)
NEW YORK (AP) - Without the benefit of an attention-grabbing favorite, the Kentucky Derby had a 12 percent drop in TV ratings.
NBC Sports' telecast Saturday drew a 7.1 national rating, meaning an average of 7.1 percent of television households were tuned in from 5-6:45 p.m. EDT. It's the highest-rated sports event since the final round of the Masters on CBS on April 14.
War Emblem, a 20-1 shot, went wire-to-wire and won a race that was considered among the most wide-open in race history.
Last year's broadcast drew an 8.1 national rating, the highest for the race since 1992. Point Given drew a lot of attention before the race but finished fifth, then wound up winning the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
NBC is in the second year of a five-year, $51.5 million deal to air thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown series.
In 2001, the network moved the traditional 5:30 p.m. EDT post time to 6:07 p.m. in an effort to draw more viewers. The race started even later this year.
ABC's final Derby broadcast, in 2000, drew a 5.8 rating.
Each national rating point represents a little more than 1 million U.S. TV homes.
Excuse me if I'm not rooting for him.
One of my favorites - Whirlaway.