This from the NY Times today...
Women, who made up 52 percent of last year’s Derby viewership, have become crucial to boosting viewership.
Last year, NBC attracted 16.3 million viewers, the most in 20 years, to see the 50-1 long shot Mine That Bird win the Derby. When Rachel Alexandra won the Preakness, 10.9 million watched, the second most in 20 years.
“They’ve changed the way horse racing is presented,” said Evans, alluding to NBC’s Derby production and the series of pre-Derby prep races around the country that Churchill Downs and the network have collaborated on.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/02/sp...tml?ref=sports