Then I did indeed misunderstand. Thanks for the correction. That’d be a pretty wild accomplishment!
Interesting info - Beyer Speed Figs for the Win, Place, Show for the last 8 Years:
Year Fin Horse BSF
2008
1st Big Brown 109
2nd Eight Belles 102
3rd Denis of Cork 97
2007
1st Street Sense 110
2nd Hard Spun 107
3rd Curlin 98
2006
1st Barbaro 111
2nd Bluegrass Cat 101
3rd Steppenwolfer 98
2005
1st Giacomo 100
2nd Closing Argument 99
3rd Afleet Alex 98
2004
1st Smarty Jones 107
2nd Lion Heart 102
3rd Imperialism 97
2003
1st Funny Cide 109
2nd Empire Maker 106
3rd Peace Rules 106
2002
1st War Emblem 114
2nd Proud Citizen 108
3rd Perfect Drift 107
2001
1st Monarchos 116
2nd Invisible Ink 109
3rd Congaree 109
2000
1st Fusaichi Pegasus 108
2nd Aptitude 106
3rd Impeachment 100
Looks like the initial overnight ratings were understating final viewer numbers …
Derby Second Most Viewed in 17 Years
Updated: May 6, 2008
NBC Sports’ coverage of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) May 3 was the most viewed Kentucky Derby in four years (Smarty Jones, 2004) ,and second most viewed in at least 17 years. The race (5:43-6:39 p.m. ET) averaged 14.2 million viewers, up 3% from 2007 (13.8 million).
NBC’s Kentucky Derby coverage has averaged three million more viewers (13.4-10.5), a 28% increase since 2001 when NBC began exclusive coverage of the Kentucky Derby, over the eight years prior on ABC.
The network’s race coverage notched an 8.8 national rating and a 21 share, even with last year’s race that was fueled by the mainstream media coverage of the Queen of England’s first visit to Churchill Downs.
Maybe final viewer numbers went up as people heard about EB and tuned in.
[QUOTE=Anne FS;3195711]
Maybe final viewer numbers went up as people heard about EB and tuned in.[/QUOTE]
Actually, that’s not how it works. 
The overnight ratings take a sample from a couple of the top markets (New York, Los Angeles, etc). The final ratings are the ones from all around the country, including the small and middle markets.
To get the kind numbers you’re thinking about, you’d have to have a ratings report for particular segments of the program; generally, the ratings slowly rise to peak as the race goes off, then drop. In all honesty, I think far more TVs were switched off or changed channels at the end of the race than tuned in.
Did they all win the same race?
Worth pointing out as it was too often said in a slight error - Big Brown was not insured for $50M before he won the Kentucky Derby. That amount was what his coverage was raised to post victory.
The $32.5 million mark pre-Kentucky Derby with just the FL Derby as the big stand out Graded win is shocking … Big Brown stud deal expected by Preakness:
IEAH and partner Paul Pompa Jr. have the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner insured for $50-million, Iavarone said. The premium is just under $5-million.
Big Brown was insured for $32.5-million when he won the Derby by 4 3/4 lengths on May 3 at Churchill Downs, remaining unbeaten in his fourth career start for trainer Rick Dutrow Jr.
Jon White with Xpressbet (as spied by Equidaily.com) has produced his top 10 list - from about Jan 5, 2008:
abridged listing
Without any further ado, here is this column’s first 2008 Kentucky Derby Top 10 list:
- MONBA
- MAJESTIC WARRIOR
- ANAK NAKAL
- MAIMONIDES
- COLONEL JOHN
- COWBOY CAL
- INTO MISCHIEF
- PYRO
- WAR PASS
- COURT VISION.
With no desire to take up the backstroke on the cushion track, Maimonides is passing on what was to be his first start of 2008 at Santa Anita in the Grade 2, $150,000 San Rafael.
“He needs another work, and the rain messed me up, so I’m going to pass,” Baffert said.
No surprise there. Sounds like people are bailing left and right (bad pun not intended.)
