Hype over an undefeated horse and a fight between jockeys resulted in stronger-than-usual numbers for The Breeders’ Cup.
Coverage of The Breeders Cup averaged a 1.08 U.S. rating across ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC last weekend, up 74% from 2009.
In particular, ESPN drew a 2.5 U.S. rating and 4.095 million viewers for The Breeders’ Cup Classic last Saturday evening. The 2.5 U.S. rating equals a cable rating of 2.9, the highest cable rating ever for the Breeders Cup.
The 51-minute telecast featured undefeated horse Zenyatta losing her first race.
For some perspective, the telecast drew a higher rating and more viewers than every single Major League Baseball telecast on ESPN during the 2010 season, as well as four of the network’s seven Chase For The Cup races, and even the network’s heavily hyped Miami Heat home opener on October 29 (2.3, 3.774 mil).
Earlier in the day, afternoon coverage of The Breeders’ Cup earned a 1.7 rating and 2.594 million viewers on ESPN.
Over on ABC, Breeders’ Cup coverage drew a 1.2 rating and 1.613 million viewers, up 33% and 17%, respectively, from last year (0.9, 1.383 mil).
In addition to the hype over Zenyatta, The Breeders’ Cup got added publicity from an altercation between jockeys Calvin Borel and Javier Castellano.
