Sunshine Millions National TV Ratings Steady

National television ratings for the Sunshine Millions on NBC Jan. 29 stayed on a par with year-ago numbers for the event. The Sunshine Millions, presented by Magna Entertainment, is a series of eight races featuring California- and Florida-bred horses competing against each other for $3.6 million in purse money. Half of the races originate at Santa Anita Park and half at Gulfstream Park.

NBC's two-hour telecast attracted a 1.5 rating and a three share, comparable to 2004's 1.5 rating and four share. In national ratings, each ratings point equals 1.096 households, meaning the telecast averaged approximately 1.6 million households.

The telecast, which began at 4 p.m. ET, picked up steam as it went along, averaging a 1.3 share for its initial half hour, 1.5 for the second half hour, 1.4 for the third half hour, and 1.7 for the final segment, which featured the Sunshine Millions Classic won by longshot Musique Toujours. The racing was up against a Kentucky-Arkansas college basketball game on CBS and fourth-round action from the Bob Hope Classic PGA tournament on ABC.