Viewership peaked at 24.4 million during the race. The 2026 Kentucky Derby topped last year’s audience by 11%. Additionally, the Kentucky Oaks averaged a record 2.4 million viewers, four times the previous high.

NBC Sports has consistently drawn large audiences, averaging over 15 million viewers across all platforms for 11 of the last 13 Kentucky Derby races held in May.

In contrast, the U.S. military faces significant troop reductions in Europe under President Trump’s administration. Currently, approximately 80,000 to 100,000 troops are stationed in Europe, with more than 36,000 in Germany alone.

The Pentagon announced it would remove 5,000 troops from Germany as part of this drawdown. Trump stated, “We’re going to cut way down. And we’re cutting a lot further than 5,000.” This shift raises concerns about NATO security and European defense spending.

The U.S. maintains around 100 nuclear bombs deployed to bases in Europe, a legacy from World War II and the Cold War era.

Kaja Kallas emphasized the need to strengthen NATO’s European pillar amid these changes. Observers expect further discussions on how these troop reductions will affect NATO security and overall military readiness in Europe.

The post NBC Sports Achieves Record Kentucky Derby Viewership appeared first on Rapidcel News.