151 GI Kentucky Derby

NBC Sports' 25th presentation of the Kentucky Derby delivered an NBC Sports-record average of 17.7 million viewers on NBC and Peacock--marking the largest Kentucky Derby audience since 1989 (18.5 million viewers, won by Sunday Silence) and a 6% increase from last year (16.7 million viewers for Mystik Dan's victory in a three-horse photo finish). Viewership peaked at 21.8 million viewers from 7-7:15 p.m. ET, as Sovereignty ran to a 1 1/2-length victory over Journalism. The peak audience was the largest ever for an NBC Sports presentation of the Kentucky Derby...

NBC Sports coverage of Kentucky Derby weekend will kick off Friday, at 1 p.m. with their Kentucky Oaks show on USA Network and Peacock. Saturday, the races on the early Derby Day card will also be televised on NBC and Peacock, starting at noon. At 2:30, coverage switches to NBC. The 2025 "Run for the Roses" marks NBC Sports' milestone 25th presentation of the Kentucky Derby --a show which has grown markedly since NBC's initial 90-minute broadcast in 2001. NBC Sports' Derby Day coverage features 10 races across 7.5 hours--five...

Churchill Downs outlined its slate of partners and on-site brand experiences for the 151st Kentucky Derby on May 3.   This year's food and beverages sponsors include: Brown-Forman returns as a premier partner, featuring the $5,000 Woodford Reserve Mint Julep experience, the classic Old Forester Mint Julep, and the refreshing Herradura Reposado Margarita. White Claw returns as the Official Hard Seltzer of the Kentucky Derby. Red Bull returns to the track offering an exclusive new limited-time flavor, Red Bull Summer Edition White Peach, at their summer-themed activation in the Infield...

The Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series, the select races that will determine the preference list for the 151st Kentucky Derby, is out, Churchill Downs said in a press release on Friday. During a special meeting at Colonial Downs, the Virginia Derby--occupying a spot on the racing calendar that was previously void of any qualifying races on Saturday, Mar. 15--is the latest addition to the schedule. The race will award 105 points to the top five finishers including 50 points to the winner. As for the Road to the...

An $80-$90 million renovation to the existing grandstand at Churchill Downs Racetrack that will update ticketed seating is scheduled to begin in August with completion planned in time for the 151st GI Kentucky Derby in May 2025, the track said in a Wednesday release. The renovation of the Grandstand Club will transform existing outdoor aluminum bleachers into a combination of 8,300 new seating varieties. Updated options will include covered and uncovered stadium-style seats as well as rail boxes along the dirt track's outer rail that will offer a "trackside" seating...