Sports
Kentucky Derby sets several TV ratings records
Golden Tempo reached to nip the lead as Cherie DeVaux takes him out of his stall after winning the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Sunday, May 3, 2026. An estimated record 24.4 million people watched Golden Tempo’s historic comeback win on Saturday at the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby.
NBC released that figure based on preliminary data collected from Nielsen and Adobe Analytics on Sunday.
The previous peak audience had been 21.8 million the year prior, meaning the 2026 running, in which jockey Jose Ortiz guided Golden Tempo from last place around the final turn all the way into first, was up 12% over the previous most-watched Derby.
Cherie DeVaux, the horse’s trainer, became the first woman trainer to win the Kentucky Derby in the event’s history Saturday.
NBC’s presentation also delivered the event’s highest average audience at 19.6 million, once again topping the previous year’s 17.7 million by roughly 11%.
The streaming numbers, mostly directed through Peacock, represented yet another record, with an average minute audience (AMA) of 1.3 million viewers, clearing 2025’s figure of 959,000.
Friday night’s Kentucky Oaks, contested for the first time in the television primetime window, likewise set viewership records. Always A Runner’s comfortable win averaged 2.4 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, a number that was four times higher than any previous viewership for the event (593,000 in 1997 on ESPN).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Xander Bogaerts’ RBI single helps Padres' snap skid over White Sox
May 3, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) slides into home plate to score a run during the fourth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images Xander Bogaerts’ infield single in the bottom of the eighth inning Sunday was enough for the winning run as the San Diego Padres snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-3 decision over the visiting Chicago White Sox.
Ramon Laureano started the winning rally by coaxing a leadoff walk from Tyler Davis (0-1). Bryan Hudson relieved Davis and fanned Miguel Andujar as Laureano stole second. Jackson Merrill’s infield hit moved Laureano to third.
Merrill swiped second while Hudson whiffed Manny Machado. Bogaerts’ check-swing on a 2-2 fastball produced a soft bouncer that third baseman Colson Montgomery gloved but couldn’t make a throw as Laureano scored.
Jason Adam (1-0) pitched a scoreless eighth and Mason Miller mowed Chicago down in the ninth for his 11th save in as many chances. The result snapped the White Sox’s five-game winning streak.
Chicago tied the game at three in the seventh when pinch-hitter Derek Hill clouted an 0-2 fastball from Adrian Morejon 409 feet over the center field wall with Chase Meidroth aboard after a single.
Hill’s tying homer no-decisioned both starters after five-inning outings. Chicago’s Anthony Kay permitted seven hits and three runs, two earned, with a walk and five strikeouts. San Diego right-hander Griffin Canning, making his first start of the year, allowed only three hits and a run while walking three and fanning seven.
Drew Romo gave the White Sox a 1-0 edge in the top of the third, lining a homer into the right field seats that traveled an estimated 363 feet. It was his third homer of the year.
The Padres took their first lead of the series with three runs in the fourth. Andujar drilled a leadoff homer to left-center, his second of the year, and Machado followed one out later with his fifth homer that traveled an estimated 397 feet to left-center.
Bogaerts and Ty France followed up with singles, then moved up 90 feet on Nick Castellanos’ groundout. Freddy Fermin drew a walk and Romo was charged with a passed ball on ball four, enabling Bogaerts to score.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mark Vientos' two homers power Mets over Angels
May 3, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; New York Mets first baseman Mark Vientos (27) gestures after hitting a home run during the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images Mark Vientos hit a pair of two-run homers Sunday afternoon for the visiting New York Mets, who earned a rare series win by beating the Los Angeles Angels 5-1 in the rubber game of a three-game interleague set.
Carson Benge had an RBI double immediately before Vientos’ second homer in the eighth for the Mets, who won for just the fifth time in 23 games. The series win is the second in that span for New York, which also took two of three from the Minnesota Twins from Apr. 21-23.
Jorge Soler delivered a run-scoring single in the first for the similarly skidding Angels, who have dropped 12 of 14 since an 11-10 start.
Mets starter Clay Holmes (4-2) earned the win by allowing the one run on four hits and three walks while striking out six over 6 2/3 innings. The outing lowered his National League-leading ERA to 1.69.
Holmes allowed just four baserunners after Soler’s one-out RBI hit.
Luke Weaver retired all four batters he faced before Brooks Raley struck out two in a one-hit ninth.
Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz (2-1) gave up two singles in the first three innings before walking Benge with one out in the fourth. Vientos followed two pitches later by hitting a 427-foot homer to left-center.
Benge and Vientos teamed up again in the eighth against Nick Sandlin, when Benge’s double scored Brett Baty before Vientos homered to left. It was the sixth regular season two-homer game for Vientos and his first since last Aug. 23, when he went deep twice against the Atlanta Braves.
Bo Bichette had two hits for the Mets.
Nolan Schanuel had two hits and a unique fielding play at first base in the third for the Angels. Schanuel snared a grounder by Juan Soto but couldn’t get the ball out of his glove, so he tossed the glove to Kochanowicz covering first.
Kochanowicz gave up two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six over 6 1/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
5-star C Obinna Ekezie Jr. picks Louisville, reclassifies to ’26
Mar 21, 2026; Buffalo, NY, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Pat Kelsey looks on during the first half against the Michigan State Spartans during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Keybank Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images Obinna Ekezie Jr., one of the top recruits in the Class of 2027, will reclassify to 2026 and join Louisville next season, he announced Sunday.
The 7-footer was the No. 4 overall prospect in the 2027 class, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.
He was also considering Arkansas, BYU and Maryland, where his father starred before going on to play four NBA seasons.
“I have chosen to commit to University of Louisville as I feel it’s the best situation to develop, showcase my game and strive to win a national championship,” the younger Ekezie told multiple outlets in a statement.
Ekezie is finishing his junior year of high school at Southeastern Prep in Orlando, Fla.
He joins an incoming Louisville class that was previously without a true freshman but is packed with transfers. Coach Pat Kelsey attracted top transfers Flory Bidunga (Kansas), Jackson Shelstad (Oregon), Karter Knox (Arkansas) and Alvaro Folgueiras (Iowa) this offseason.
–Field Level Media
