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Among the respondents, 21% indicated they watch the Kentucky Derby. This event attracts a predominantly suburban audience, with 47% of viewers residing in suburban areas, compared to 25% in urban settings and 26% in rural locales. This suburban skew highlights the Derby’s appeal beyond the bustling city centers.
Gender dynamics play a significant role in viewership, with males comprising 54% of the audience, while females account for 46%. This relatively balanced gender distribution sets the Kentucky Derby apart from other sporting events, which often see a more pronounced male dominance.
Age is another defining factor, as the Kentucky Derby draws a notably older crowd. A significant 31% of viewers are aged 65 or older, the highest among the surveyed events. In contrast, only 7% of the audience falls within the 18-24 age bracket, underscoring the event’s traditional appeal to older generations.
Income levels among Kentucky Derby viewers reveal that 4% earn $400,000 or more annually, aligning with other major sporting events like the Daytona 500 and March Madness. This suggests that the Derby attracts a relatively affluent audience, though not significantly more so than its counterparts.
Parental status also provides insight into the Derby’s audience. Among viewers, 39% are parents, while 31% are grandparents. This indicates a strong family-oriented viewership, with the event serving as a multigenerational tradition for many.
As the Kentucky Derby unfolds today, these demographic insights paint a picture of an event that resonates with a diverse yet distinctly suburban and older audience. The data underscores the Derby’s enduring appeal across generations, maintaining its status as a cherished American pastime.
This article’s data comes solely from CivicScience’s database, which contains nearly 700,000 poll questions and 5 billion consumer insights. Our AI content creation tool, DataScribe, supported the article.



