Kentucky Derby payout 2022: Prize money breakdown

Here is how all the prize money breaks down for the 2022 Kentucky Derby.

The first leg of the Triple Crown will be run on Saturday evening, as it is Kentucky Derby weekend in Louisville, Kentucky.

It all comes down to this at Churchill Downs. The final horse race of the weekend will be run at approximately 6:57 p.m. ET. What makes the derby so fascinating besides all the traditions and grandeur surrounding the race is this is the first time these three-year-old horses will be running a race this long. It is the college football spectacular of horse racing, so buckle up for the main event.

Here is how the prize money breaks down when it comes to the overall payout at Churchill Downs.

Kentucky Derby payout 2022: Prize money breakdown

For the fourth year in a row, the purse for the Kentucky Derby will amount to $3 million. The winner of the the main event will garner $1.86 million, which is more than 60 percent of the entire purse. Here is how the rest of the payouts shake out for this year’s running of the derby at the iconic Churchill Downs.

1. $1.86 million
2. $600,000
3. $300,000
4. $150,000
5. $90,000

Even though there are two other legs of the Triple Crown, neither the Belmont or the Preakness pay out quite like the derby does. The Preakness is slated to pay out $1.5 million when it runs in two weeks in Baltimore, while the Belmont will pay out only $1 million in overall prize money when that race is run in Saratoga in roughly a month. Nothing pays out like the Kentucky Derby.

The winner of the race will have all eyes on them heading into the Preakness in two weeks’ time.