Nearly three million people tuned in to watch Sea The Stars win this year’s Derby on Saturday (6 June).
An audience of 2.8m was recorded by BBC1, 26.4 per cent of TV viewers.
The number is only slightly down on the 2008 and 2007 figures of 3m.
A BBC spokesman said: “These are very decent figures. The overall audience still shows that there is a particular interest in the Derby as one of the absolute crown jewels of the racing calendar.”
More than 100,000 attended the event at Epsom Downs racecourse, including The Queen.
Nine people were arrested at the meeting — for suspected offences including assault, obstructing police, possession of class A drugs, theft and being drunk and disorderly.
