--- title: "Kentucky Derby Purse 2026: How Much Will The Churchill Downs Winner Bank?" canonical: "https://readhorseracing.com/2026/05/03/kentucky-derby-purse-2026-full-churchill-downs-prize-money-breakdown/" type: "post" language: "en-GB" author: "Andy Newton" section: "Features" published: "2026-05-03T03:00:14Z" modified: "2026-05-03T06:48:23Z" --- # Kentucky Derby Purse 2026: How Much Will The Churchill Downs Winner Bank? **As the 152nd running of the *‘Run For The Roses’* edges closer on Saturday, May 2, plenty of racing fans will be wondering: what is the Kentucky Derby purse for 2026-and how exactly is the prize money split for the opening leg of the US Triple Crown?** ## **Kentucky Derby Purse Was Boosted To $5m In 2024** Connections targeting Triple Crown glory got a welcome lift in 2024 when Churchill Downs raised the total purse for the [**Kentucky Derby**](https://readhorseracing.com/2026/04/27/2026-kentucky-derby-uk-start-time-date-how-to-watch/). The prize fund jumped from $3,000,000 in 2023 to $5,000,000 in 2024-making it the richest Derby in history and bringing it closer to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, which still leads the way in North America with a $7,000,000 purse. Looking ahead to 2026, that enhanced figure remains in place. So, how is the $5m prize pool divided among the top finishers? You can also see the [Eddie Olczyk 2026 Kentucky Derby picks](https://readhorseracing.com/2026/05/01/eddie-olczyk-kentucky-derby-picks-churchill-downs/) as the respected NBC handicapper gives his Churchill Downs 1-2-3 best bets ## **How The $5m 2026 Kentucky Derby Purse Is Split** It’s not a ‘winner-takes-all’ set-up-tough, which is a slight positive for those finishing just behind. But not all the horses. As only the top five horses will earn a share of the purse. Naturally, the winner takes the lion’s share, banking $3,100,000. The runner-up still collects a tidy $1,000,000, while third place secures $500,000. - 1st: $3,100,000 - 2nd: $1,000,000 - 3rd: $500,000 - 4th: $250,000 - 5th: $150,000 For readers in the UK this roughly translates to. - 1st: £2,480,000 - 2nd: £800,000 - 3rd: £400,000 - 4th: £200,000 - 5th: £120,000 You can also see the key [Kentucky Derby trends](https://readhorseracing.com/2026/05/01/kentucky-derby-trends-churchill-downs-stats/) to help find the Churchill Downs winner – including some incredible post positions stats. ## **How Much Will The 2026 Kentucky Winning Jockey Earn?** ![](https://media.readhorseracing.com/readhorseracing/2026/04/Sovereignty-.jpg) Based on the 2026 Kentucky Derby rules, each jockey that finishes 4th or worse will get a minimum $500 riders fee. However, the top finishing riders will earn much more. Around 80% of the [Kentucky Derby prize money](https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/sports/triple-crown/kentucky-derby-prize-money-purse-winner-cash-earnings-2026/3802159/) will go to the winning owner – with the rest split between the trainer and jockey. With the winning Kentucky Derby rider and barn getting 10% of the purse each. Meaning with $3,100,000 on offer to the 2026 Kentucky Derby winner, the rider get $310,000 – not bad for a few minutes work. But the jockey will then need to give his agent and valet a cut – depending on their arrangements. Which in most cases is 25% to the agent and 5% to their valet. So, in this example, this would leave around £217,000 for the winning 2026 Kentucky Derby jockey to file with the tax man. ## **2023 to 2026 Kentucky Derby Purse Increases** Back in 2023, Mage-who paid $32.42- won the Kentucky Derby and earned $1.86m for winning connections. From 2024 onward, however, the winner’s prize jumped to $3.1m-an increase of $1.24m. That’s exactly what the 2025 winning owner, Godolphin Racing LLC, collected with Sovereignty. ## Did You Know? 75% of Kentucky Derby Runners Won’t Earn A Penny With a full field of 20 runners, only five horses make the money. That leaves 15-75% of the field-heading home empty-handed. In 2025, for example, sixth-placed Burnham Square missed out entirely, while the top five were paid as follows: - 1st – Sovereignty ($3,100,000) - 2nd – Journalism ($1,000,000) - 3rd – Baeza ($500,000) - 4th – Final Gambit ($250,000) - 5th – Owen Almighty ($150,000) - 6th – Burnham Square ($0) ### **WATCH: Sovereignty Scooping The 2025 Kentucky Derby Purse** [Kentucky Derby 2025 (FULL RACE) | NBC Sports (embedded)](https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/NqrDJmmh1AA?feature=oembed) ## **How the Kentucky Derby Purse Has Grown Over Time** Prize money has come a long way since the inaugural race in 1875, when Aristides earned just $2,850. - 1875: $2,850 - 1954: $100,000 - 1995: $1,000,000 - 2005: $2,000,000 - 2019: $3,000,000 - 2024: $5,000,000 ## **Kentucky Oaks Purse Also Increased in 2024** The **Kentucky Oaks**-the fillies’ counterpart, run the day before the Derby-also received a boost in 2024. Its purse rose by $250,000 to $1,500,000 (from $1,250,000), and that figure remains unchanged for 2025. ### **WATCH: Good Cheer Winning The 2025 Kentucky Oaks** [Kentucky Oaks 2025 (FULL RACE) | NBC Sports (embedded)](https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/CXLDKqHogYA?feature=oembed) ## **How The Kentucky Derby Compares To The Other US Triple Crown Races** The Triple Crown features three races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. The Derby leads the way with a $5,000,000 purse. Both the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes sit level behind it, each offering $2,000,000. The Preakness runs on Saturday, May 16, while the Belmont Stakes-still staged at Saratoga during Belmont Park’s renovation-takes place on Saturday, June 6. Only 13 horses have ever swept all three races, from Sir Barton in 1919 to Justify in 2018. ### **Triple Crown Purses for 2026** - Kentucky Derby: $5m - Preakness Stakes: $2m - Belmont Stakes: $2m ## **2026 Kentucky Derby Betting Odds & Runners** - 1 – Renegade 9/2 - 2 – Albus 33/1 - 3 – Intrepido 50/1 - 4 – Litmus Test 33/1 - 5 – Right to Party 50/1 - 6 – Commandment 5/1 - 7 – Danon Bourbon 20/1 - 8 – So Happy 14/1 - 9 – The Puma 10/1 - 10 – Wonder Dean 33/1 - 12 – Chief Wallabee 7/1 - 13 – Silent Tactic 25/1 - 14 – Potente 20/1 - 15 – Emerging Market 14/1 - 16 – Pavlovian 33/1 - 17 – Six Speed 66/1 - 18 – Further Ado 6/1 - 19 – Golden Tempo 33/1 - 20 – Fulleffort 25/1 *Note: Kentucky Derby odds are subject to change.*