This Day in History: 2015-05-2

NBC Sports reported that its live coverage of the Kentucky Derby on NBC averaged 16 million viewers, up 4% from 15.3 million last year, according to information from The Nielsen Company. A record 170,513 fans, the highest attendance in Derby history, watched American Pharoah take home the garland of roses. Prior attendance record of 165,307 was set in 2012 when I’ll Have Another won the 138th Kentucky Derby. Wagering from all-sources was the highest all-time on both the Kentucky Derby Day program and on the Kentucky Derby race. Wagering from all-sources on the Kentucky Derby Day program totaled $194.3 million, an increase of 4% over the 2014 total of $186.6 million, and an increase of 4% over the previous record set in 2012 of $187.0 million. Wagering from all-sources on the Kentucky Derby race increased 7% to $137.9 million from 2014’s $129.2 million and a 4% increase over the previous record set in 2012 of $133.1 million.