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

Home TV News May 3, 2026 3:15pm PT Kentucky Derby Delivers Record Audience for NBC and Peacock as Trainer Cherie DeVaux Makes History By Cynthia Littleton Plus Icon Cynthia Littleton Business Editor @Variety_Cynthia Latest LISTEN: Happy Anniversary, Television! Revisiting the Medium’s Launch at the 1939 New York World’s Fair 3 days ago Take-Two Interactive’s Strauss Zelnick on ‘GTA 6’ Jitters, Zynga’s Turnaround and Investing in Original Properties 3 days ago LISTEN: Kacey Musgraves Embraces Her Silly Side With ‘Middle of Nowhere’ Album and Tour 4 days ago See All Getty Images 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. Related Stories Korea Box Office: 'Salmokji : Whispering Water' Maintains Command in Second Weekend