Kentucky Derby's thrilling finish draws 16.7 million viewers. It's the biggest audience since 1989

Mystik Dan’s nose victory in the 150th Kentucky Derby drew 16.7 million viewers, the biggest audience for the race since 1989.

NBC Sports says viewership peaked at 20.1 million from 7 to 7:15 p.m. EDT on Saturday, when 18-1 shot Mystik Dan, Sierra Leone and Forever Young hit the wire together in the Derby’s first three-horse photo finish since 1947.

That marked the biggest peak audience ever for the Derby on NBC. The 16.7 million viewers was up 13% from last year's 14.8 million.

NBC Sports says it was the biggest Derby audience since 18.5 million watched Sunday Silence win in 1989, when the race was shown on ABC.