Golden Tempo’s Kentucky Derby 2026 win sets race record for TV ratings
The Kentucky Derby continues getting bigger for NBC and Peacock.
Golden Tempo’s victory in the 152nd Run for the Roses was the most watched on record, averaging 19.6 million viewers between the NBC television broadcast and the Peacock streaming service, according to a news release from the network. That was an increase of 11% over last year, when Sovereignty won Derby 151. The 19.6 million watching on TV made it NBC’s largest audience for a Saturday program since the Milan Cortina Olympics earlier this year.
Saturday’s viewership peaked at 24.4 million viewers between 7 and 7:15 p.m. ET. That figure set another Derby record for NBC, which has broadcast the iconic race since 2001.
This year’s Derby was NBC Sports’ largest streaming audience for a horse racing event on Peacock. It had an Average Minute Audience (AMA) of 1.3 million viewers. That’s a 36% rise over 2025 (959,000) and almost double 2024 (714,000).
But the Derby wasn’t the only race that did big numbers for NBC.
The Kentucky Oaks, which ran under the lights Friday night at Churchill Downs, averaged 2.4 million viewers for NBC and Peacock. That’s the most on record for the event; the prior mark was 593,000 on ESPN in 1997. Always a Runner’s triumph Friday also drew nearly eight times the average audience figure (304,000) of the last three years, when the Oaks aired on USA Network.
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This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Derby 2026 TV ratings, Golden Tempo’s win sets record on NBC
Golden Tempo’s win at Churchill Downs was the most-watched Kentucky Derby on record
A historic number of people tuned in to watch Golden Tempo’s win at the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.
The iconic horse race at Churchill Downs averaged 19.6 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, the network announced Sunday. That made it the most-watched Kentucky Derby on record. Viewership peaked at about 24.4 million viewers during the race, which was also the largest audience for an NBC broadcast of the Derby.
By comparison, Sovereignty’s win at last year’s Kentucky Derby averaged about 17.7 million viewers and peaked at about 21.8 million.
Golden Tempo was in last place as the pack made the final turn before rallying all the way back and broke open along the outside to pick up the stunning win. Golden Tempo went off at 23-1 odds.
The win was also historic for trainer Cherie DeVaux. She became the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby, and had quite the reaction as Golden Tempo pulled out the victory.
“I don’t even have any words right now,” DeVaux said. “Jose did a wonderful job, masterful job at getting him there. He was so far out of it and he has had so much faith in this horse.”
Golden Tempo was invited to run in the Preakness Stakes in two weeks, though it’s unclear if it’ll do so. Two of the last four Kentucky Derby winners have opted out of that race. The last horse to pull off the Triple Crown was Justify in 2018.
