146th Travers Stakes is Most-Watched in 20 Years

Fans packed the race track in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. and tuned to NBC in big numbers this past Saturday, August 29, for American Pharoah's second-place finish in the 146th Travers Stakes.

Viewership for the NBC telecast peaked at 3.4 million viewers between 5:45-6:05 p.m. ET, as American Pharoah - the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years - was edged out in the stretch run by Keen Ice.

Compared to American Pharoah's victory in NBC's one-hour Haskell Invitational telecast on August 2, viewership for the 5-6 pm ET hour of the Travers Stakes increased 32% (2.5 million for Travers; 1.9 million for Haskell).

NBC's full telecast (4:00-6:05 p.m. ET), averaged 2.0 million viewers to rank as the most-watched Travers Stakes telecast in 20 years (3.4 million viewers on 8/19/95, ABC). Saturday's full telecast viewership was up 104% from last year's Travers Stakes on NBC (981,000).

In addition, viewers streamed 199,000 live minutes via NBC Sports Live Extra on Saturday - up 707% from last year's Travers. Sunday's racing also drew a full house of 50,000 spectators to Saratoga Race Course.

BREEDERS' CUP CHALLENGE SERIES COVERAGE CONTINUES SATURDAY ON NBCSN: This Saturday, September 5, 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 $750,000 Woodward from Saratoga at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

Laffit Pincay III hosts live coverage from Saratoga, joined by analysts Randy Moss and Jerry Bailey, the Hall of Fame jockey and five-time Breeders' Cup Classic winner, reporter Carolyn Manno, analyst/handicapper Bob Neumeier, and race caller Larry Collmus. Daily Racing Form's Matt Bernier will also serve as handicapper.

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