The Breeders’ Cup was additional proof of elevated curiosity in horse racing through the 2025 season, as NBC Sports activities reported robust viewership. It is necessary to keep in mind that past these viewers, followers are accessing this occasion by means of many different mediums.
NBC Sports activities reported that attendance for Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup was up 18% in comparison with the 2024 World Championships. In a social media put up, it mentioned Saturday’s (Nov. 1) Breeders’ Cup broadcast from Del Mar, anchored by the $7 million Longines Basic, reached a complete of 6 million viewers.
“NBC’s Breeders’ Cup World Championship viewership peaked at 1.4 million viewers between 6:15 and 6:30 p.m. ET as Perpetually Younger raced to victory within the Breeders’ Cup Basic,” an NBC spokesperson mentioned. “Moreover, the three:30-7pm ET present on NBC and Peacock averaged 950,000 viewers, a rise of 6% from 2024 (896,000).”
The robust numbers proceed the development by which the Kentucky Derby Introduced by Woodford Reserve introduced 17.7 million viewers to NBC and Peacock, a file within the 25 years NBC has lined the Derby and probably the most since 1989. This quantity was 6% larger than final yr.
With Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty not operating within the Preakness Stakes, rankings for the race dropped a bit, however curiosity remained robust. 3.83 million viewers watched the Belmont Stakes Introduced by NYRA Bets, a rise of 4.6% from 2024, and the Triple Crown race ended on a excessive observe.
Elements driving curiosity embody the contribution of recent viewers influencer Griffin Johnson to this yr’s race, in addition to a sexy group of stakes horses, together with two-time Basic winner Sovereignty, main a robust group of 3-year-olds and the deepest handicap division the game has seen in years. Followers tuned in to see the horses they’ve gotten to know from earlier horse racing seasons.
Breeders’ Cup Basic winner Perpetually Younger and runner-up Sierra Leone every ran within the 2024 Kentucky Derby, after which Sierra Leone gained the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Basic and Perpetually Younger completed third in that race. Fierceness, the runner-up within the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Basic, completed third this yr. Followers have been watching Fierceness since he gained the 2023 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Introduced by TAA, securing him the title of 2-year-old colt champion.
This yr serves as a reminder that high horses carry folks to the game, ought to we’d like it.
One factor BloodHorse is making an attempt so as to add to those viewership numbers is that TV and streaming platforms are solely a part of the story. Many jockeys watch the Breeders’ Cup simulcast at their favourite racetrack or favourite betting sales space. Breeders’ Cup estimates a further 300,000 viewers will watch the 2 days of championship racing on the FanDuel TV platform alone.
Whereas the Breeders’ Cup continues to be compiling all consumption knowledge, the Gamers Present’s social media livestream reported greater than 1.1 million views in two days throughout YouTube, Fb and the X Channel. The Gamers Present is one other manufacturing that gives extra handicapping data than the NBC broadcast.
And do not forget that the World Championship is a world occasion with spectators from everywhere in the world. Over the previous few years, Breeders’ Cup has expanded its reside streaming to make the occasion extra accessible to horse racing followers all over the world. The 2025 feed went reside to greater than 180 territories all over the world, together with ITV, Sky Sports activities and RacingTV within the UK, Abema TV, Inexperienced Channel and Netkieba in Japan. Different components of the world receiving the sign embody Abu Dhabi Media and Dubai Racing Channel (MENA) within the Center East and SuperSport in Africa.
In Asia, we additionally opened FanCode (India) and WeDo Asia (Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, and Myanmar). Australian viewers tuned in by means of Racing.com, with Reuters (information), Sport24 (airways) and TransWorld Sports activities (journal reveals) offering world protection.
HBA Media distributed the 90-minute program to a worldwide viewers.
“The Breeders’ Cup is a cornerstone of worldwide racing, and we’re proud to have the ability to assist carry its tales, stars and environment to followers all over the world,” HBA Media CEO Frank Sale mentioned forward of this yr’s World Championship. “With file business returns and distribution by means of HBA, this yr’s broadcast will replicate the actually world enchantment of the occasion and will likely be broadcast reside in over 180 territories, guaranteeing each racing and sports activities fanatics all over the world can share in two days of the very best of world-class sport.”
