How much is the prize money purse at the 2018 Belmont Stakes?
By Zoe West
Justify will look to become a little richer with a win in the Belmont Stakes.
Horse Racing is expensive. The top horses (or those expected to become top horses) can cost several millions of dollars before they even see a racetrack. But they can just as easily become total busts. Injuries, unrealistic expectations, and luck all play into whether or not these horses recoup their value. Many don’t, but some do.
The Belmont Stakes will feature a few horses who have done so, several times over. Justify, the favorite and Triple Crown hopeful, was sold as a yearling (1-year-old) to his current owners. The price tag: $500,000.
He wasn’t even close to the most expensive horse that day. The honor there went to fellow Derby runner Mendelssohn, who sold for $3 million. Price isn’t everything. Mendelssohn was a total non-factor in the Derby, finishing last, and hasn’t raced since.
Of course Justify was well worth it. To date he has earned $2.9 million, with a chance to add to it in the Belmont.
The Belmont
In total, the Belmont Stakes is worth $1.5 million. The full prize money breakdown goes as follows:
| 1st | $900,000 |
|---|---|
| 2nd | $300,000 |
| 3rd | $165,000 |
| 4th | $90,000 |
| 5th | $45,000 |
In the past, Justify could have been running for even more money. For years VISA tried to up the stakes in the Triple Crown by offering a $5 million bonus to any horse who swept the series. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) for them, their partnership coincided with the longest Triple Crown gap in history. The sponsorship began in 1995, and ended in 2005. During that 10-year period, six horses won the first two legs, but all failed to win the Belmont. Currently there is no sponsor for, or bonus linked to, sweeping the Triple Crown.
Next: The official drink of every Triple Crown race, explained
American Pharoah , the last winner of the Triple Crown, retired with earnings of $8.6 million in 11 races. The Belmont will be only Justify’s sixth career start, and he would reach 3.8 million with a win. Obviously he has to win first, but doing so would set himself up nicely for the rest of his career.
For more from the Triple Crown, wrapping up with the Belmont Stakes, make sure to follow FanSided and stay tuned to our horse racing hub for all the latest news and results.