The Kentucky Derby is one of the most prestigious events in horse racing, but the winning team on Saturday at Churchill Downs will receive more than bragging rights.
The Derby is the second-richest event in horse racing, behind only the Breeders' Cup Classic, and for the third year in a row, it will feature a record-setting $5 million purse. The lion's share of that, $3.1 million to be exact, goes to the winning team and is typically split 80-10-10 between the horse's owner, its trainer and its jockey.
That would give the winning jockey a payout of $310,000, which is then split between the jockey, their agent and their valet. The other top-five finishers also get a sizable payout, with second place receiving $1 million, third receiving $500,000, fourth receiving $250,000 and fifth receiving $100,000.
There will be a lot at stake on Saturday for the 152nd Running of the Kentucky Derby, with lucrative payouts for both owners and jockeys on the line.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 2026 Kentucky Derby purse: How is prize money for the winning horse?
