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FinanceKentucky Derby

How much will the Kentucky Derby winner pocket?

By
Chris Morris
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
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By
Chris Morris
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
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May 5, 2023, 10:44 AM ET
Kentucky Derby winners earn a fair amount, but the real money comes after the race.
Kentucky Derby winners earn a fair amount, but the real money comes after the race. Andy Lyons/Getty Images
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Winning the run for the roses will get you a lot of cabbage.

The victor of this year’s Kentucky Derby will take the lion’s share of a $3 million total purse, with the bulk of that going to the horse’s owner—and a smaller amount than you might imagine to the jockey who rides the horse to victory.

The first-place winner in the 2023 race will get $1.86 million, with $186,000 going to the jockey. The runner-up will earn $600,000, with $30,000 going to the rider; third place will capture $300,000, with the jockey pocketing $15,000.

Horses that place fourth and fifth will earn $150,000 and $90,000 respectively, while the jockeys who rode them will receive just $4,500 and $2,500.

The Belmont Stakes winners split a $1.5 million purse, while the Preakness winners divide $990,000.

The real money for the owners comes after the race (and the Triple Crown) is in the rearview mirror, though. Stud fees for champion horses can be substantial, ranging from $100,000 to $225,000 per foal, which can result in millions of dollars.

Justify, which won the Triple Crown in 2019, reportedly earned his owner $75 million for the sale of his breeding rights to Coolmore, a top-tier horse breeding organization.

While the prize pool itself for Derby winners and runners up isn’t exactly Super Bowl–level, getting a horse into the Kentucky Derby isn’t a cheap affair. The Downey Profile reports the entry fee for the 2023 race is $25,000, with an additional $25,000 starting fee.

All totaled, 20 horses will compete in this year’s race.

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About the Author
By Chris MorrisFormer Contributing Writer

Chris Morris is a former contributing writer at Fortune, covering everything from general business news to the video game and theme park industries.

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