The series' first program on June 3, which featured The Californian (gr. II), the Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT), and the Brooklyn Handicap (gr. II), earned a 1.4 rating and 4% market share. The second program, which featured the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. II) and Dallas Turf Cup Handicap, earned a 0.9 rating and 3% market share. Each rating point represents 1,022,000 households.CBS has one more chance to boost the overall ratings on July 28 when it telecasts the Whitney Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga and the Arlington Handicap (gr. III). The program will be telecast from 3-4 p.m. (EDT).
This year's expanded NTRA Champions series on CBS seems to be faring as well as the series did a year ago on Fox.The series' first three of four programs have earned a combined 1.1 rating and a 3% market share, which is identical to the combined ratings for the five grade I races that Fox aired on five separate days. A direct comparison with last year's series is not possible because the number of programs and number of races is substantially different. This year's series is 11 races spread over four programs.CBS' latest telecast on July 1 earned a 1.2 rating and attracted 3% of the viewing audience. The program featured the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I), the Suburban Handicap (gr. II), the United Nations Handicap (gr. IT), and the Stars and Stripes Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIIT).