NTRA Champions Hits Slump

The final television rating for the NTRA Champions Series' second of four programs slid to 0.9 and earned a 3% market share.

A direct comparison with last year's series is not possible because the number of programs and number of races is substantially different. Last year, the series featured five grade I races on five different days and was aired by Fox. This year's series is 11 races spread over four programs and is being carried by CBS.

The final rating for CBS' June 16 program, however, is lower than any of the ratings earned by Fox. Last year, the Donn Handicap (gr. I) and the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) shared the series' lowest rating of 1.1. The Fox series overall earned a 1.1 and a 3% market share. The U.S. Open golf tournament was the NTRA Champions only competition from 4:30-6 p.m. The tournament received a 5.3 rating and captured 15% of viewers.

Each rating point represents 1,022,000 households.

Featured in the next installment of the NTRA Champions series' July 1 will be the Hollywood Gold Cup, the Suburban Handicap (gr. II), the United Nations Handicap (gr. IT), and the Stars & Stripes Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IIIT). The final program in the series airs July 28 and features the Whitney Handicap (gr. I) and the Arlington Handicap (gr. III).