Kentucky Derby Sets Ratings, Betting Records Despite Attendance Dip

The Kentucky Derby drew its best TV audience since 1989, as 17.7 million viewers tuned into Saturday’s race on NBC and Peacock. That’s up 6% from last year’s audience of 16.7 million.

Viewership peaked at 21.8 million viewers just after 7 p.m. ET, when Sovereignty, who entered Saturday with the second-best odds of winning (5–1), narrowly defeated Kentucky Derby favorite Journalism (3–1). That’s up 8% from the peak audience of 20.1 million in 2024. Larry Collmus called his record-breaking 15th consecutive Kentucky Derby for NBC on Saturday.

Sovereignty earned the $3.1 million first-place prize for owner Godolphin, the thoroughbred horse racing and breeding operation of the Maktoum family, who are the rulers of Dubai. Typically, jockeys and trainers are each paid out 10% of the winnings.

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The Kentucky Derby set yet another record for betting handle, despite a noticeable dip in attendance. The crowd of 147,406 at Churchill Downs was down almost 6% from 156,710 last year, which was the largest attendance number at the Kentucky Derby since 2018. Rainy weather over the weekend created damp and cold conditions in Louisville, including an especially muddy racetrack and infield, which is where some of the most affordable tickets allow access.

But that didn’t stop bettors at the track and home from getting in on the action. 

Churchill Downs announced that wagering from all sources on the entire day of races at the Kentucky Derby totaled $349 million, breaking the previous record of $320.5 million set in 2024. When the entire week of races is factored in, that rises to $473.9 million, also a record.

Betting on the Kentucky Derby itself totaled a record $234.4 million, besting last year’s sum of $210.7 million.