After overnight ratings were among the lowest since NBC picked up the rights, final numbers for The Preakness Stakes were more-than-respectable.
The 2013 Preakness Stakes earned a 5.9 final rating and 9.7 million viewers on NBC, up 13% in ratings and 20% in viewership from last year (5.2, 8.1M), and up 5% and 10%, respectively, from 2011 (5.6, 8.9M).
The race ranks as the fourth-most viewed over the past 20 years, trailing only 2009 (10.9M), 2006 (10.1M) and 2004 (11.6M).
Of note, final ratings for The Preakness declined only by 2% from the overnight (6.0), the smallest drop from the overnight to the final rating since NBC began carrying the race in 2001.
Overnight and Final Ratings For The Preakness
Since NBC began televising the race in 2001
(This year’s numbers from NBC Sports Group Press Box)
