FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 4th, 2015

AMERICAN PHAROAH’S VICTORY IN HASKELL INVITATIONAL ON NBC IS MOST-WATCHED SUMMER RACE IN 13 YEARS

Viewership Peaked at 3.1 Million as Triple Crown Winner Crossed Finish Line with 2¼-Length Victory

“Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In – Presented by Lane’s End Farm” Coverage Continues This Saturday, August 8 at 5 PM ET on NBC

STAMFORD, Conn. – August 4, 2015 – Fans turned out at the track and tuned to NBC in big numbers Sunday for American Pharoah’s run-away victory in the William Hill Haskell Invitational.

Viewership for the NBC telecast peaked at 3.1 million viewers between 5:45-6:06 p.m. ET, as American Pharoah – the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years – ran to an easy 2¼-length victory.

NBC’s full telecast (5:00-6:06 p.m. ET), averaged 2.0 million viewers to rank as the most-watched horse racing telecast to take place between the Belmont Stakes and Breeders’ Cup in 13 years (9/29/02 on NBC; 2.9 million viewers for “The NTRA Road to the World Thoroughbred Championships,” which featured Breeders’ Cup prep races from four tracks). Sunday’s viewership was up 102% from last year’s Haskell on NBC.

In addition, viewers streamed more than 100,000 live minutes via NBC Sports Live Extra on Sunday – a 15-fold increase from last year’s Haskell. Sunday’s racing also drew a record 60,983 spectators to Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J.

Quotable from American Pharoah’s Haskell victory:

“A rousing return for a living legend.” – NBC race caller Larry Collmus

“If we didn’t televise his next race, I would make a point to watch American Pharoah run. That’s how special he is to America.” – NBC analyst and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey

“American Pharoah not only has ability, he has charisma.” – NBC host Tom Hammond

BREEDERS’ CUP CHALLENGE SERIES COVERAGE CONTINUES SATURDAY ON NBC: This Saturday, August 8, NBC Sports Group’s coverage of the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In – presented by Lane’s End Farm” continues with live coverage of the $500,000 Longines Test Stakes and the 1.25 million Whitney at 5 p.m. ET on NBC.

Tom Hammond hosts live coverage from Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., joined by analysts Randy Moss and Jerry Bailey, the Hall of Fame jockey and five-time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, reporters Donna Brothers and Kenny Rice, analysts/handicappers Eddie Olczyk and Bob Neumeier.

For more information about NBC Sports Group shows and properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios and headshots, please visit NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com.

–NBC SPORTS GROUP–