updated 10:30 p.m. ET May 8, 2009

NEW YORK - The Kentucky Derby’s television ratings are the highest in 17 years.

NBC says Saturday’s coverage of 50-1 long shot Mine That Bird’s win drew a 9.8 national rating and a 23 share. That’s up 11 percent from last year’s 8.8/21.

It’s the highest rating since a 10.3/30 when Lil E Tee won in 1992.

The rating is the percentage of all homes with televisions tuned into a program, while the share is the percentage of all TVs in use at the time.

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