Kentucky Derby Delivers Record Audience for NBC and Peacock as Trainer Cherie DeVaux Makes History

The annual Run for the Roses on Saturday was a historic moment for women in horse racing as Cherie DeVaux became the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby.

DeVaux’s story plus other firsts that were poised to be achieved by jockeys, trainers and horses at this year’s derby drove the live audience on Saturday evening to a record average of 19.6 million across NBC and streamer Peacock.

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The live audience peaked at 24.4 Million Viewers on both platforms amid the startling come-from-behind win by a neck secured by jockey Jose Ortiz on thoroughbred Golden Tempo. DeVaux’s emotion spilled over on screen as she basked in Golden Tempo’s win.

“It really is an honor to be able to be that person for other women or other little girls to look up to,” DeVaux said after the win, according to the Associated Press. “You can dream big, and you can pivot. You can come from one place and make yourself a part of history.”

Ortiz wound up competing neck-and-neck with his brother, Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode one of the day’s top favorites, Renegade. The peak audience for the event that runs about 2 minutes was up 12% from 2025’s peak

NBC Sports notes that it has averaged 15 million viewers or more for 11 of the past 13 Kentucky Derby telecasts. NBC has greatly invested in the event, building out the pre-show coverage and highlighting the backstories of major players in the racing world such as DeVaux and Mike Smith, who could have been the oldest jockey ever to win the Derby at the age of 59.

NBC Sports’ coverage of racing’s Triple Crown events continues May 15 with the 151st Preakness Stakes race in Laurel Park, Md.