BREEDERS’ CUP TELECAST EARNS HIGHEST RATING SINCE 1998

NBC Sports' exclusive five-hour broadcast of the 19th running of the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships last Saturday (1:00-6:00 p.m. ET) from Arlington Park, earned a 2.0 national rating/5 share, making it the highest rated telecast since 1998's 2.2/6 for its 4½ hours of coverage, according to Nielsen Media Research. This year’s program was up 18% from last year’s marks of 1.7 and a 5 share. Last year's program was the first to expand from four and one-half to five hours of coverage.

The final half-hour segment of the telecast, which featured Volponi’s upset victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, was the most-watched portion of the telecast, earning a 2.7/6, which equates to 3,670,000 viewers.

“The increase in ratings for the Breeders’ Cup on NBC is another indicator of the resurgence that Thoroughbred racing is experiencing,” said Chip Campbell, NTRA senior vice president of Television and Sponsorship. “These numbers come on the heels of improved VISA Triple Crown and summer racing ratings, as well as stronger international television distribution, greater HDTV exposure and significantly increased sponsorship support throughout the year.”

Among the broadcast competition during Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup telecast were the Notre Dame vs. Florida State and Georgia vs. Kentucky college football games.

Cities with the highest Breeders’ Cup ratings were Chicago, 4.5/10; San Antonio, 3.7/7; Sacramento 3.6/9; Boston, 3.4/8; Baltimore 3.2/7 and St. Louis, 3.2/7.

The NTRA is a broad-based coalition of horseracing interests, including the American Quarter Horse Association, charged with increasing popularity of horseracing and improving economic conditions for industry participants. The NTRA and Breeders’ Cup Limited also conduct the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championships consisting of eight races and $13 million in purses and awards, the Breeders’ Cup Stakes Program and the Great State Challenge. The NTRA has offices in Lexington, Ky., and New York City. NTRA press releases appear on the NTRA Web site, www.ntra.com, and at the Web site for the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, breederscup.com.