NBC reported a decline in households tuned in to the June 8 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) compared with year-ago figures.
Overnight ratings released June 10 registered 4.6 for the race portion of the telecast from 6:15-7 p.m. EDT. That equates to approximately 3.7 million households watching as Palace Malice won the Belmont over Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Oxbow and Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Orb .
Last year's Belmont telecast earned a 5.4 overnight rating even after I'll Have Another was scratched the day before he would have competed for the Triple Crown. In 2011 the race portion registered a 4.8 rating.
National ratings will be available June 11.
The highest-rated markets in the overnights were Fort Myers, Fla., 9.3; West Palm Beach, Fla., 8.9; Buffalo, N.Y., 8.8; Louisville, Ky., 8.6; Orlando, Fla., 7.6; Boston, Mass., 7.1; Jacksonville, Fla., 6.9; Richmond, Va., 6.7; New York City, 6.6; and St. Louis, Mo., 6.2.
