NBC'S SATURDAY AFTERNOON COVERAGE OF AMERICAN PHAROAH'S 2nd PLACE FINISH IS MOST WATCHED TRAVERS STAKES IN 20 YEARS

Viewership Peaked at 3.4 Million as Triple Crown Winner Was Edged Out by Keen Ice

Viewership up 32% vs. One-Hour Telecast of American Pharaoh's Haskell Invitational Victory on Aug. 2

"Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In - Presented by Lane's End Farm" Coverage Continues This Saturday, Sept. 5 at 5 PM ET on NBCSN

STAMFORD, Conn. - Sept. 1, 2015 - 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.