Preakness is final leg of NBC's Triple Crown deal

STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) The Preakness Stakes will remain on NBC after a seven-year contract extension was reached for the second leg of the Triple Crown.

The agreement announced Monday with the Maryland Jockey Club locks up all the Triple Crown races for NBC Sports Group. Earlier in the year, a 10-year extension was announced with Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby and a seven-year deal with the New York Racing Association for the Belmont Stakes.

NBC's association with the Maryland Jockey Club to televise the Preakness began in 2001.

When American Pharoah won the Preakness on his way to becoming the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years, the telecast averaged more than 8.9 million viewers - the seventh straight year the race topped 8 million.