How much do jockeys make at 2025 Kentucky Derby? Prize money, payout for winning
How much do jockeys make at 2025 Kentucky Derby? Prize money, payout for winning
Show Caption
Hide Caption
What is a Triple Crown in horse racing?
Sports Seriously's Mackenzie Salmon breaks down what a Triple Crown is in horse racing ahead of the 2024 Kentucky Derby.
Sports Seriously
The 151st Kentucky Derby is just days away, slated for May 3 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
A $5 million purse will be up for grabs, with the winner taking home $3.1 million. The 2025 purse matches the record-breaking purse from 2024.
On a race card, three prominent names are usually featured next to the horse running: The owner, the trainer and the jockey. Depending on agreements between jockeys and trainers, each usually earns a percentage of the prize money if their thoroughbred is the victor.
Here's what you need to know about how much a jockey earns at the Kentucky Derby:
How much does a jockey make?
Jockeys are typically hired on a race-to-race basis rather than a long-term contract, which is common in other sports, according to federal research. Jockeys typically earn a set amount up front and then earn 5-10% earnings in prize money for races they win.
Brian Hernandez Jr. was the winning jockey last year on the horse Mystic Dan and earned 10% of the winnings.
How much did the winning jockey make in 2024?
According to the Kentucky Derby, Hernandez took home $310,000 for riding Mystic Dan to victory in the 150th Kentucky Derby last year on May 4. Opening at 18:1 odds, Hernandez rode Mystic Dan to a victory in a three-way photo finish.
How much will the winning jockey in the 2025 Kentucky Derby earn?
Just as it was last year, the purse for the 2025 Kentucky Derby is set for $5 million. Once again, the winning combination of jockey and horse will earn $3.1 million, with the other top-five finishers earning a separate payout.
The Kentucky Derby ― the "Run for the Roses' ― typically features the highest purse of the Triple Crown races. Both the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes paid out a purse of $2 million in 2024.
Jockeys in 2025 Kentucky Derby
Here's a look at the jockeys on horses in the 2025 Kentucky Derby:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Trans athlete AB Hernandez said it's ‘weird' people protested high school track events: ‘I did what I wanted to do'
California transgender athlete AB Hernandez believes it's 'weird' that people were so outraged by her competing against biological females that they protested multiple high school track events. The teen, who was born a biological male, is on the track and field team at Jurupa Valley High School in Southern California, which dominated the California high school track-and-field championship on May 31. The high school junior faced scrutiny at events over the last few months, with many actively protesting at her at meets and online since Hernandez was participating against biological females. 6 Transgender athlete AB Hernandez believes it's 'weird' that people were so outraged by her competing against biological females that they protested multiple high school track events. KCRA 'It's definitely crazy, I get a lot of hate comments, but I'm like, 'I don't care',' Hernandez told KCRA. '[I'm a] 16-year-old girl with a mad attitude. You think I'm going to care?' The student-athlete also found people who were continually protesting the high school events to be a bizarre sight. 'It's just weird at this point,' Hernandez said. While dozens of demonstrators were outside the stadium gates to protest, Hernandez said people were more supportive inside. 'I wasn't expecting any of it to be honest. I was just expecting to go out there and compete alone, but the support was amazing,' she said. 6 The student-athlete also found people who were continually protesting the events to be a bizarre sight. AP 'They really made my experience perfect. I will forever be grateful for them because they helped me get through the weekend.' Hernandez tied in the varsity high jump final against two biological females, Jillene Wetteland and Lelanie Laruelle and shared the podium with them due to a newly passed California policy. The student-athlete also took home gold for the triple jump, finishing with a final jump of 42 feet and 2 inches, and had to share the podium with Kira Grant Hatcher, who jumped 40 feet 5 inches. 'I did what I wanted to do,' Hernandez said. 'My performance was all I wanted to be good. So all this backlash… I performed my best, so that's all I cared about.' 6 A plane tows a sign that reads 'No Boys in Girls Sports' in protest to transgender athlete AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley (not pictured) during the CIF State Track and Field Championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Clovis, Calif. Sports/Newscom via ZUMA Press 6 Hernandez tied in the varsity high jump final against two biological females, Jillene Wetteland (R) and Lelanie Laruelle, and shared the podium with them due to a newly passed California policy. AP The California Interscholastic Federation changed its rules before the event to mandate that any biological females who lost to a trans-athlete would not lose their place, meaning Hernandez's performance would displace no female winners. The new rule also allowed an additional biological female student-athlete to compete in each category in which Hernandez was set to perform. The change came in the wake of criticism over the federation's handling of Hernandez's success, including from President Trump, who threatened to withhold funding from the Golden State. 'California, under the leadership of Radical Left Democrat Gavin Newscum, continues to ILLEGALLY allow 'MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN'S SPORTS,'' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 6 A sign that reads 'Goo Girls. Honor Title IX' at a protest against transgender athlete AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley during the CIF State Track and Field Championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Clovis, Calif. Sports/Newscom via ZUMA Press 6 The student-athlete also took home gold for the triple jump, finishing with a final jump of 42 feet and 2 inches, and had to share the podium with Kira Grant Hatcher, who jumped 40 feet 5 inches. AP Trump previously warned that federal funding would be 'held back, maybe permanently' if the Golden State didn't adhere to his February executive order to safeguard women's sports. The president also said at the time that he would order 'local authorities, if necessary, to not allow' a transgender athlete to compete in the women's track and field contest, though he did not mention Hernandez by name. The Trump administration previously launched an inquiry into Maine to determine whether it was breaking Title IX rules by allowing transgender athletes to compete, putting at least $250 million in annual federal funding for the state in the crosshairs. However, the White House later agreed to unfreeze funding for Maine amid litigation and negotiations. Last month, the Justice Department announced plans to investigate whether California's School Success and Opportunity Act, which allows transgender students to compete in women's sports, violates Title IX.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Fox Sports Taking Heat for Its Terry Bradshaw Decision
Saturday marked the final race in one of sports' most time-honored traditions: the Triple Crown of horse racing. Fans flocked to New York and tuned in on FOX to see Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty defeat Preakness winner Journalism once again to take two of the three crown jewel races. Fans enjoyed the on-track action, but they were dismayed by FOX's decision to include an analyst from a completely different sport. Advertisement Former NFL quarterback and longtime NFL on FOX analyst Terry Bradshaw handled some of the pre-race festivities, and the Hall of Famer struggled through some of the presentation. He named Saturday's race as the "137th" Belmont Stakes, when it was actually the 157th running of the race. "I appreciate someone other than NBC having coverage of a big horse race, but Fox really needs to work on production. The crowd mic is potted astronomically high, and Terry Bradshaw has no place on the broadcast," said one sports journalist on social media. "Imagine being a horse racing expert and you get your moment on TV on one of the very few days your sport gets to shine and you're ready to show your wisdom and spread love of your sport to the masses and then you're placed on equal footing to Terry Bradshaw," another person said. Advertisement The tradition of adding crossover properties to horse racing is nothing new. NBC went all-out in 2025 for the Kentucky Derby, inviting and speaking with several celebrities and names from its several networks, shows and movies on traditional television. "NBC Sports needs the entire Triple Crown. Fox Sports is bad. Terry Bradshaw bad," another horse racing fan said. FOX may not be the preferred home of horse racing for the average fan, but in order to get the full Triple Crown experience, they'll need to deal with the network for at least a few more years. FOX and the New York Racing Association have negotiated a rights deal that makes the network the exclusive home of the race and all associated events on the grounds through at least 2030. Advertisement "FOX Sports has quickly become the year-round home of the finest thoroughbred racing in the country,' said NYRA president and CEO Dave O'Rourke. After Saturday's experience, it seems that more than a few fans would beg to differ. Fox Sports Taking Heat for Its Terry Bradshaw Decision first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 8, 2025
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Aaron Rodgers Fuels Marriage Rumors with Ring Seen in Steelers Contract Photo
Aaron Rodgers continues to fuel rumors that he is married The NFL star can be seen wearing a dark-colored band on his left ring finger in a photo celebrating his new contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers The photo comes after Rodgers revealed in April that he was in a "serious relationship"Aaron Rodgers is once again sparking rumors that he is married. After previously making several public outings wearing what appeared to be a wedding ring on his left hand, the NFL star appeared in a new photo sporting a dark-colored band on his left ring finger. On Saturday, June 7, the NFL and the Steelers shared the photo in a joint Instagram post celebrating Rodgers' new contract with the Pittsburgh team. "Officially official ✍️," the two football organizations captioned the post. The photo shows Rodgers, 41, smiling as he rested his left hand on the paper contract and held a pen in his other hand. He repped his new team by wearing a black cap with a yellow Steelers logo. According to CBS Sports, the quarterback inked a one-year deal worth $13.65 million, $10 million of which is guaranteed. Rodgers first revealed in December 2024 that he was dating a woman named Brittani while appearing on The Pat McAfee Show. At the time, he was discussing how he had shifted from mall shopping for Christmas gifts to ordering them online. 'There was one package left for my girlfriend Brittani that hadn't showed up yet,' he said, casually dropping his relationship status. 'I was waiting on this to show up, it showed up today.' A.J. Hawk, McAfee's co-host and Rodgers' former Green Bay Packers teammate, then jokingly asked, 'Spears?' prompting Rodgers to clarify, "Not Brittany Spears, no, this is Brittani with an 'i.' " He also noted that Brittani does not have social media. Later in the conversation, when McAfee suggested that Rodgers was "in love" with Brittani, the athlete smiled and declared, "It's a good feeling, boys. It is." Months later, during another appearance on the show on April 17, Rodgers shared that he was in "a serious relationship" and his priorities were shifting. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "I'm in a different phase of my life," he explained. "I'm 41 years old, I'm in a serious relationship. I have off-the-field stuff going on that requires my attention. I have personal commitments I made not knowing what my future was going to look like after last year, that are important to me." Rodgers first ignited rumors that he had gotten married when he stepped out to the annual Barnstable Gala last month, on the eve of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, sporting a new accessory — a dark-colored band that appears to be the same one seen in the recent contract-signing photo. So far, Rodgers has remained mum on the marriage speculation. However, his friend Hawk appeared on The Pat McAfee Show on May 6 and admitted that even he was confused by Rodgers' ring. "No update from this situation," he said, adding, "Surprisingly enough, I did not press him on this." "To tell you the truth, I don't know if I have any answers on that situation. He's very private and mysterious when it comes to things like that, and this is definitely one of those, for sure," Hawk added. The former linebacker also noted that his friend "seems very happy" these days while reiterating, "But not a lot of clarity on this situation, I'm not going to lie." Rodgers was previously engaged to actress Shailene Woodley. The pair ended their relationship in April 2022. Read the original article on People
