Sky Sports Racing wins Kentucky Derby broadcast rights
Broadcaster to showcase the US Triple Crown series in the UK and Ireland after signing NBCUniversal extension
Sky Sports Racing has won exclusive broadcast rights to the Kentucky Derby following the signing of a long-term deal with NBCUniversal.
The race will air live in the UK and Ireland alongside coverage of the other two legs of the US Triple Crown series, the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
The $2m Kentucky Derby is the most attended horserace in the US, frequently attracting more than 160,000 racegoers.
At The Races CEO Matthew Imi said: “This agreement reinforces our long-term commitment to the biggest racing events on the international stage and we will help raise the profile of these great fixtures even further in the UK and Ireland with coverage and cross promotion across Sky Sports.
“The Kentucky Derby is an institution in the US, and in recent years, the achievements of American Pharoah and Justify have brought the Triple Crown series to mainstream attention around the world.
“We also value our partnership with NBCUniversal and there are excellent opportunities for further cooperation in helping promote racing on both sides of the Atlantic,” he added.
In 2018, Justify became the 13th horse ever to win the Triple Crown after a dominant victory in the Belmont Stakes, leading to a valuation on retirement estimated by Forbes at over $60m.