At least in the overnights, Nyquist came out ahead of American Pharoah.
The race portion of the 2016 Preakness Stakes earned a 6.2 overnight rating on NBC Saturday evening, up 7% from last year (5.8) but down a tick from 2014 (6.3). The 6.2 is the second-highest overnight for the event in the past five years, behind 2014.
Exaggerator‘s win, which ended any chance of a second straight Triple Crown, peaked with an 8.0 from 6:45-7 PM ET — topping last year’s peak by 5% (7.6).
The modest increase marks a turnaround from Kentucky Derby, which was off 14% in the metered markets — an indication that there may not be Triple Crown fatigue post-American Pharoah. Of course ratings could still decline when the final numbers are released.
Baltimore earned the top local rating for the race with a 19.7, up 17% from last year (16.8) and the market’s highest rating for the event since 2009 (21.3). Louisville ranked second with a 14.6 (+23%) followed by Ft. Myers, FL (13.6, +25%). Richmond, VA (10.6) and West Palm Beach, FL (10.4) rounded out the top five.
(Sat. numbers from NBC Sports)
