Though surprisingly no match for Zenyatta in 2010, American Pharoah gave the Breeders Cup Classic a substantial bump in the overnights.
Coverage of the Breeders Cup Classic drew a 2.6 overnight rating on NBC Saturday afternoon, up 46% from last year (1.8) and up 86% from 2013 (1.4), when coverage aired in primetime. The overnight does not include an hour of preliminary races.
American Pharoah’s victory, which completed horse racing’s “Grand Slam” of the Triple Crown and Breeders Cup, scored the highest overnight for the race in five years — since Zenyatta’s repeat bid drew a 3.1 on ESPN in 2010.
All three of American Pharoah’s post-Triple Crown races had substantial increases in the metered markets. His loss as the Travers Stakes was up 86% over last year, and his win at the Haskell Invitational increased by 75%.
Louisville was Saturday’s top local market with an 8.6 rating, followed by New Orleans (6.1), Cincinnati (5.4), Dayton, OH (4.7) and Indianapolis (4.5).
(Sat. numbers from NBC)
