After ratings for the Kentucky Derby tied an 18-year high, the second leg of the Triple Crown did not fare nearly as well.
The race portion of The 2010 Preakness Stakes drew a 5.3 final rating and 8.4 million viewers on NBC Saturday, down 22% and 23%, respectively, from last year (6.8, 10.9 mil), down 4% in ratings and up 6% in viewership from ’08 (5.5, 7.9 mil), and down 7% in ratings and flat in viewership from ’07 (5.7, 8.4 mil).
The 5.3 rating is the lowest for the race portion of The Preakness since 2000, the last year the event aired on ABC (4.1).
Additionally, Saturday’s race ranks as the third-least viewed since ’00.
Despite the declines, the Preakness was the top sporting event on broadcast over the weekend, and the #2 sporting event of the entire week (behind Cavaliers/Celtics Game 6 on ESPN).
Ratings/Viewership For Race Portion of The Preakness Stakes Since 2000
(Sports Business Daily, ESPN.com)
