How much does the Kentucky Derby winner earn? 2026 Derby winner prize money breakdown, How much winning horses makes in Churchill Down?
One of the most coveted titles in American athletics is winning the Kentucky Derby.
The winner of the 2026 Kentucky Derby will make over $3 million dollars, with a recent boost to the Run for the Roses' purse taking the total prize pool higher than ever before.
A 20-horse field will vie for the top prize at Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby from the very first running back in 1875.
No one is giving a horse the financial windfall that comes with a victory, but the breeders, trainers, and jockeys involved in the 151st edition of the Kentucky Derby will all be hoping for a share of a purse that will be split among the top five finishers in this first race of the 2025 Triple Crown.
Not only is the Run for the Roses the yearly start of the Triple Crown season and "the most exciting two minutes in sports," but it also leaves the victorious horse and jockey in the annals of history. Additionally, it can start a jockey's career at Churchill Downs for upcoming races.
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Golden Tempo, a 23-1 long shot, won the 152nd Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 2, to collect a payout of $3.1 million from the $5 million purse.
Charging down the stretch to hold off morning line favorite Renegade by a neck, jockey Jose L. Ortiz rode Golden Tempo to victory in the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, to kick off the first race of the American Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Horse Racing.
Running for Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable − and trained by Cherie DeVaux, who became the first woman to train a Derby winner − Golden Tempo crossed the finish line in 2:02.27.
The victory was also the first for jockey Jose Ortiz, who won the Derby in his 11th try.
Renegade, a co-favorite and ridden by Ortiz's brother Irad, finished second, and Ocelli, a 70-1 longshot, placed third.
The Puma was the fifth horse to be scratched during the K.Derby week, following Silent Tactic, Fulleffort, and Right to Party, Great White, who also scratched after falling on their sides before being placed in the starting gate.
LAST YEAR: Sovereignty won the 151st Kentucky Derby, overtaking favorite Journalism late in the race to collect a payout of $3.1 million for the winner with a purse of $5 million for the second straight year.
With that, here's the purse, winner's share and payout for the 2026 Kentucky Derby prize money, the richest ever from Churchill Downs:
Kentucky Derby money 2026: Payout, purse
For the Third straight year the Kentucky Derby purse for 2026 at $5 million. The winner of the race will take home $3.1 million (more than the entire purse was back in 2023),
Kentucky Derby payout for winners
The guaranteed $5 million purse is split across the top five finishers of horse racing's marquee event. The owners of Sovereignty, the winner of the 2026 Kentucky Derby, were awarded $3.1 million out of $3 million purse — 62% of the entire purse.
That winner payout will remain the same to $3.1 million in 2025 — $100,000 more than the entire purse from 2023.
How much money did winner horse makes at Kentucky Derby?
2026: This year champion Golden Tempo won $3.1 million of the record-breaking $5 million winner chest after winning the 2026 Kentucky Derby.
Kentucky Derby winner's share
This year's winner 2025, Golden Tempo, brought home a $3.1 million prize (with 10% of that going to winning jockey Jose L. Ortiz), while runner-up Renegade got a cool $1 million consolation prize.
How much does winning jockey win at Kentucky Derby?
This Year: Using calculations from previous Kentucky Derby runnings by CNBC, 2026 winning Jockey Jose L. Ortiz will take home 10% of the winning $3.1 million winning payout — or $500,000.
2026 Kentucky Derby prize money, purse for top five finishers, payout.
For the third consecutive year, the Kentucky Derby will feature a $5 million purse, paid out to the top five horses in the field. The winner of the race will take home $3.1 million (more than the entire purse was back in 2023), while the horse that finishes second will still pull down $1 million. The full purse breakdown for the top 5 horses in the field looks like this:
Here's the prize money breakdown for the 2026 Kentucky Derby:
WINNER: Golden Tempo, $3.1 million
Second: Renegade, $1 million
Third: Ocelli, $500,000
Fourth: Chief Wallabee, $250,000
Fifth: Danon Bourbon, $150,000
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How does the Kentucky Derby purse compare to other Triple Crown races?
The Kentucky Derby has the highest prize money of the Triple Crown races.
When compared to other races in the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby boasts the highest purse, while the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, which follow the Kentucky Derby in the Triple Crown series, each have a purse of $2,000,000.
How much will the winning Kentucky Derby Jockey & Trainer earnings be?
Besides their riding fee for participating in the race, the winning Kentucky Derby Jockey and Trainer also receives 10% of the prize money. For the 2026 race, this means the 2026 winning Jockey Jose L. Ortiz / Winner Female Trainer Cherie DeVaux will earn $310,000 besides their base fee.
How much was first Kentucky Derby purse?
The first Kentucky Derby, in 1875, had a $1,000 purse — plus added money.
Added money, according to Daily Racing Form, is any amount of money added to the purse of a race by a racing association (or a breeding fund, etc.) to the amount paid by owners in nomination, eligibility, entry and starting fees.
The winner of the first Run for the Roses, Aristides, received $2,850. The runner-up, Volcano, received $200.
That makes for a grand total of $3,050; $2,050 of which was added money.
Kentucky Derby purse payout history, prize money over the years.
The purse for the Kentucky Derby has seen a steady increase over the past three decades. From 1996-2004, the purse was $1 million. It was increased to $2 million in 2005.
Here's a look at how the Kentucky Derby purse has changed over the years:
1875: $1,000-added
1876-87: $1,500-added
1888-92, 1894-95: $2,500-added
1893: $3,000-added
1896-1912: $6,000-added
1913: $5,000-added
1914-16: $10,000-added
1917-18: $15,000-added
1919: $20,000-added
1920, 1934: $30,000-added
1935-36: $40,000-added
1921-33, 1937-39: $50,000-added
1940-45: $75,000-added
1946-54: $100,000-added
1955-78: $125,000-added
1979-81: $200,000-added
1982-85: $250,000-added
1986-90: $350,000-added
1991-95: $500,000-added
1996-2004: $1 million guaranteed
2005-18: $2 million guaranteed
2019-23: $3 million guaranteed
2024- 2025: $5 million guaranteed
2026: $5 million guaranteed
Between 1875-85, only the first- and second-place finishers received payouts. That changed in 1886; when Free Knight was awarded $150 for placing third.
Now the top five collect checks. Here's how the purse was distributed from 2025:
WINNER: Golden Tempo, $3.1 million
Second: Renegade, $1 million
Third: Ocelli, $500,000
Fourth: Chief Wallabee, $250,000
Fifth: Danon Bourbon, $150,000
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