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Golden Tempo's victory in Kentucky Derby averages 19.6 million for most-viewed since 1989
TL;DR
Golden Tempo's victory in the 152nd Kentucky Derby attracted an average of 19.6 million viewers, making it the most-watched Derby since 1989. The audience peaked at 24.4 million during the race, marking an 11% increase from last year.
Key points
- Golden Tempo won the 152nd Kentucky Derby
- Average viewership was 19.6 million on NBC and Peacock
- Peak audience reached 24.4 million during the race
- Cherie DeVaux is the first woman to train a Derby winner
- Viewership increased by 11% compared to last year
Mentioned in this story
Cherie DeVauxChurchill Downs
Golden TempoJose L. OrtizKentucky Derby
APTOPIX Kentucky Derby Horse Racing
Jockey Jose L. Ortiz celebrates after riding Golden Tempo (19) to victory the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
APTOPIX Kentucky Derby Horse Racing
Jockey Jose L. Ortiz celebrates after riding Golden Tempo (19) to victory the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
APTOPIX Kentucky Derby Horse Racing
Golden Tempo (19) ridden by Jose L. Ortiz wins the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — Golden Tempo's victory in Saturday's 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby averaged 19.6 million on NBC and Peacock, making it the most-viewed Run for the Roses since NBC started carrying the race in 2001. According to preliminary data from Nielsen and Adobe Analytics, the audience peaked at 24.4 million from 7-7:15 p.m. EDT. Post time for the race was 7:03 p.m. as Jose Ortiz rallied Golden Tempo from 12th as they approached the stretch to a win by a neck over Renegade and make Cherie DeVaux the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner. It is the Derby's largest audience since Sunday Silence's 1989 victory averaged 18.5 million on ABC. This year's Derby audience also was an 11% increase over last year. Some of the increase can be attributed to a change in the way viewers are counted. Nielsen began using its methodology for all events last September with the start of the current television season. The streaming audience on Peacock was 1.3 million, up 36% from 2025 and nearly doubling 2024 (714,000). NBC also announced that Friday night's Kentucky Oaks averaged 2.4 million. It was the first time the race was contested in primetime and on network television. \\_ AP horse racing:
Q&A
What was the viewership for Golden Tempo's Kentucky Derby win?
The viewership averaged 19.6 million, peaking at 24.4 million during the race.
Who trained Golden Tempo, the Kentucky Derby winner?
Cherie DeVaux is the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner, having trained Golden Tempo.
How does the 2026 Kentucky Derby viewership compare to previous years?
The 2026 Derby's viewership is the largest since 1989 and represents an 11% increase over the previous year.