- Belmont Stakes purse breakdown for 2026
- The winning Belmont Stakes horse will earn $1.2m
- Belmont Stakes winning jockey to bank $84,000
The third and final leg of the 2026 Triple Crown takes centre stage on Saturday with the $2 million Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.
The 158th running of the Belmont Stakes remains one of the richest horse races in the United States.
Covering 1¼ miles around Saratoga’s historic oval, the race is over in little more than two minutes.
Yet for the jockey who steers the winner home, those fleeting moments can deliver a substantial payday.
So, exactly how much prize money will the winning rider earn in the 2026 Belmont Stakes?
2026 Belmont Stakes Purse Breakdown
The Belmont Stakes purse is shared among the first eight finishers, with the lion’s share reserved for the winner at $1.2m.
With the runner-up banking $360,000 and the third $200,000.
While even the horse that finishes 8th collects $20,000 of the 2026 Belmont Stakes purse.
Here is how the $2 million prize fund breaks down:
- 1st: $1.2 million
- 2nd: $360,000
- 3rd: $200,000
- 4th: $100,000
- 5th: $60,000
- 6th: $40,000
- 7th: $20,000
- 8th: $20,000
Belmont Stakes Purse: What Is The Jockey, Owner and Trainer Cut?
The winner’s share of the purse is split between the winning owner(s), trainer and jockey.
In most cases, the owner receives 80%, with the trainer and jockey each collecting 10%.
Based on that arrangement, the jockey aboard the 2026 Belmont Stakes winner would earn $120,000-10% of the $1.2 million first-place prize.
Alongside the cash reward, the winning rider also receives a trophy.
However, the full $120,000 does not stay in the jockey’s bank account.
It is customary for a jockey’s agent to receive 25% ($30,000), while the valet responsible for preparing the rider’s equipment is paid 5% ($6,000).
After those deductions, the jockey’s earnings are reduced to $84,000 before taxes.
See the 2026 Belmont Stakes runners, odds and post positions here.
The history of the Belmont Stakes purse
The Belmont Stakes was first run in 1867.
With the first winner a filly named Ruthless, who edged out her rivals in a thrilling three-horse finish, earning $1,850 for her victory.
That figure represents roughly 0.15% of the 2026 winner’s prize money.
Meaning if her jockey, Gilbert Watson, received a 10% riding fee, his share would have been $185.
Given the race’s prestige and importance on the American racing calendar, it is no surprise that the Belmont Stakes purse has increased dramatically over the past century and a half.
The purse reached $1 million for the first time in 1998, climbed to $1.5 million in 2014, and was raised to its current level of $2 million in 2024.
The Belmont Stakes purse is also the same as the Preakness Stakes, but a lot less than the Kentucky Derby.
With the Derby winner in 2026 banking $3.1m – which is $1.9m more than the Belmont Stakes.
The 2026 Kentucky Derby purse breakdown was as follows.
- 1st: $3,100,000
- 2nd: $1,000,000
- 3rd: $500,000
- 4th: $250,000
- 5th: $150,000
Note: All figures on this page are subject to change
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