‘The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports’ naturally comes with expectations. But the 150th edition of the famed Kentucky Derby proved to everyone last year once again why it is the most exciting and the most prestigious horse race in the USA. Three horses in a photo finish where the winner edged out one of the favorites – that’s precisely what people line up to see at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday of May.

Winning the Derby, also famously known as “The Run for the Roses,” makes you part of a glorious history that has continued uninterrupted since 1875. But it’s not just legacy and prestige that are on offer at the Kentucky Derby. Having a successful race comes with the added benefit of walking away with some serious money. But how much exactly is the question, right? Well, we have the answer. So, let’s dive right in.

What Is the Total Prize Money for the Kentucky Derby 2025?

The total prize money pool for the May 3rd, 2025, Kentucky Derby is $5 million. That amount brings it quite close to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the most lucrative horse racing event in North America, which pays out around $7 million. But hey, it’s kind of expected from the Derby, being the most prestigious of the Triple Crown races.

In fact, the 2024 Kentucky Derby, with its prize pool of $5 million, had a bigger payout than its Triple Crown counterparts, Belmont Stakes and the Preakness Stakes, which paid out $2 million each. But mind you, the prize pool was not always this substantial. Even as recently as 2023, the total prize money on offer was $3 million. And before 2019, it was $2 million overall.

Well, this hike in purse has been possible thanks to Churchill Downs Inc.’s investment of over $1 billion into the horse racing industry in Kentucky. The development initiative by the private organization, which started in 2018, has not only strengthened the horse racing infrastructure but has also helped bring in enough money to raise the cash prize at the historic Derby.

In case you are a history buff who is interested in knowing about how the prize purse has evolved, the payout in the first-ever Kentucky Derby of 1875 was $2,850 for the winner and $200 for the horse that came second. The total payout crossed $100,000 for the first time in 1954, and the sum went up to touch the million-dollar mark in 1996. The $1 million guaranteed purse persisted till 2004, after which the 131st Derby in 2005 saw an unprecedented hike. The total guaranteed prize money was doubled to $2 million straight.

20 years down the line, it now stands at $5 million. And every penny of it will be contested with the utmost ferocity and determination. Because the way the game is set up, it is ‘winner takes all’, or the majority of it, at least.

How Much Does the Kentucky Derby 2025 Winner Earn? Full Payout Breakdown

From the $5 million purse that is on offer at the 2025 Kentucky Derby, the winner gets to take home $3.1 million. Yes, the horse that crosses the line first gets to walk away with more than 60% of the total prize pool. Talk about a race that is heavily tilted to reward the best. That explains why the race is so closely contested and is referred to as the ‘greatest two minutes in sports’.

This $5 million prize purse started for the first time in 2024, with the $3.1 million dedicated to the winner. That is, when Mystik Dan won the 2024 Kentucky Derby last year, his whole team got $3.1 million as prize money as a payout. But then comes the question – how does the money get divided among the trainer, jockey, owner, etc.? Well, historically, the owner is said to pocket almost 80% of the cash prize, while the jockey and trainer get 10% each.

Meaning if the amount is $3.1 million, the owners take $2,480,000 out of it. And the trainer and jockey each receive $310,000 as part of their share. Traditionally, that has been the way the prize money has been shared. But that’s not all, though. Besides the money, the owner also gets a gold trophy, while the trainer, jockey, and the breeder each get a silver replica, half the size of the main gold trophy. The tradition of a dedicated gold trophy to the winning owners started in 1924.

So, as you can understand, a lot is riding on being the No. 1 horse at the Kentucky Derby. But coming second is also not bad. You will get $1 million as a prize. Other than that, the 3rd placed horse gets $500,000 while the 4th and 5th get $250,000 and $150,000, respectively. Before 2024, when the total prize pool was $3 million, the winner used to get $1.86 million. Compare that with the $3.1 million that the 2025 Champion will get. Big difference, right?

But with the expenses that are associated with getting the horses to race in arguably the most challenging race in North America, it helps that the winner is compensated handsomely. In that context, the $5 million payout definitely makes Kentucky Derby participation a fruitful endeavor for the racers. Well, not all racers. Not for 75% of the field. Because only the top 5 walk away with some prize money, while the other 15 don’t get a penny.

Yes, that $5 million prize money will be shared by the top 5 horses. And there’s not a single penny of guaranteed payout for the remaining 15 thoroughbreds on the field. And when you take into account the amount of money that needs to be invested to get a horse at the starting gates of the Kentucky Derby, you will understand why winning it becomes almost a necessity.

Trainers and owners keep trying their luck repeatedly, hoping for an elusive win. Trainer Steve Asmussen hasn’t won in the Kentucky Derby in 26 attempts. Mike Repole is 0 for 8. And these entries to the Derby don’t come free. Per several sources, buying a thoroughbred racehorse can set you back by a lot, depending on the pedigree. Per NBC, the average auction price of horses in the 2023 Derby field was around $446,000. Add to that the costs of training, equipment, food, healthcare, etc, and the damage is $50k a year. Then, to move the horses around from race to race for qualifying for the Derby involves transportation costs, entry fees, maintenance charges, etc.

Then, to enter the Kentucky Derby, you need to pay a nomination fee, and there is a catch. If you pay the nomination fee at the earliest, it’s $600. But around April, it becomes $6000. And after that, it shoots up to $200,000. Talk about being a rich man’s game. And it’s still not done. To enter the race, you have to pay $25,000 and another $25,000 to get your horse eligible to be at the starting gates of the Derby. Almost all done. Just add a small $500 for a jockey for the race, and you are set.

Naturally, you can understand that it becomes a financially draining endeavor if you are not in the top 5 at least. That’s what makes winning the Kentucky Derby not only prestigious but also so priceless. It’s a mega racing extravaganza.

So, come May 3rd, watch out for a fierce showdown. With so much money at stake, no wonder it translates into the “fastest two minutes in sports”.