Fansided

Kentucky Derby purse, payout by finishing positions: Prize money for winners

By Cody Williams

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - MAY 04: Skinner trains on the track during morning workouts in preparation for the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 04, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - MAY 04: Skinner trains on the track during morning workouts in preparation for the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 04, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Breaking down the 2023 Kentucky Derby purse with the payout by finishing position including the winner’s prize money, jockey pay and more. 

The 2023 Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday, May 6 at the historic Churchill Downs, as always, in Louisville. This will be the 149th Run for the Roses and the winners will get their place in horse racing immortality as they try to make their way to winning the Triple Crown. Of course, they also want their share of the Kentucky Derby purse.

For the 2023 event, the Kentucky Derby purse is set at a record $3 million, the largest amount of overall prize money ever handed out for this race. That’s a huge payday awaiting the horses that can run the best race on Saturday.

Of course, that $3 million is split up not just between different finishers, but also between the horse owners, trainers and jockeys. So how does the 2023 Kentucky Derby purse break down between the winner’s prize money, payout by finish and more? Let’s take a look.

Kentucky Derby purse 2023: Prize money for winner

The winner of the 2023 Kentucky Derby will receive a record-breaking $1.86 million for coming out on top at Churchill Downs. However, the breakdown of how that money is distributed is split up between the owner, trainer and jockey. The trainer and jockey each get 10% of the prize money for the win ($186,000) while the winning horse’s owner takes home the remaining 80%, which equates to $1.488 million.

Kentucky Derby purse, payout by finish position for 2023

The top five finishers are all paid out at the Kentucky Derby and here’s how much of the purse they each of those horses owners, trainers, and jockeys will split up for their finish.

  1. $1.86 million (62% of purse)
  2. $600,000 (20% of purse)
  3. $300,000 (10% of purse)
  4. $150,000 (5% of purse)
  5. $90,000 (3% of purse)

The breakdowns for how the prize money is split up, however, is different for those outside of the winner. The jockeys and trainers for the second- and third-place finishers at the Kentucky Derby will get 5% of the payout while the fourth- and fifth-place finishers will get rougly 6.67% of the prize money allotted to their horse.

Next. 25 greatest fictional athletes of all-time. dark

Home/Kentucky Derby