How much money does the winning jockey at the Kentucky Derby get?

Yahoo

03-05-2025

(NEXSTAR) — For the 151st time, the gates will open at Churchill Downs on Saturday, promising yet another thrilling Kentucky Derby. While every horse and jockey pairing comes into the Derby with varying odds, they will all be vying for the illustrious blanket of red roses and its accompanying multi-million dollar purse.
Journalism, the red-hot California thoroughbred, has carried the best odds in the lead-up to the Kentucky Derby, ranking as a 3-to-1 favorite. Among those with the less-favorable odds is country singer Toby Keith's horse, Render Judgment, who became a late entry after Florida Derby winner Tappan Street suffered an injury to his right foreleg. As of Thursday, Render Judgment's odds stand at 30-to-1.
Odds aside, the prizes remain the same: the prestigious Derby trophy, the red roses, an entry into the history books, and, of course, a sizeable payout.
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Last year, Churchill Downs Inc., host of the stakes race, announced a guaranteed $5 million Kentucky Derby purse. It was a $2 million increase over the previous purse of $3 million, established in 2019.
Unlike the payout at the Masters last month, the purse at the Kentucky Derby is not increasing this year.
Like last year, the first-place finisher will get $3.1 million of the purse. The next four will also receive payouts: $1 million for second place, $500,000 for third, $250,000 for fourth, and $150,000 for fifth.
But that payout goes to the horse's owner, not the jockey who led the horse to victory in the 2-minute-long race.
Like caddies at the Masters, jockeys of top-finishing horses receive a portion of the Kentucky Derby prize their horse lands.
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Typically, that payout is about 10% of the prize money, multiple reports say. That means the first jockey across the line Saturday could pocket $310,000.
However, as CNBC explains, roughly 30% of the jockey's winnings go toward their agent, valet, and taxes. That still outweighs the payouts the second- and third-place jockeys are in line for: $50,000 and $25,000, respectively. The remaining jockeys will profit far less.
It's also possible that the winning jockey will be the same jockey as last year: Brian Hernandez Jr. He and Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a three-horse photo finish, despite their 18-1 odds. This year, Hernandez will be jockeying to get Burnham Square across the line first (with better odds, at 8-1).
Should the jockey and their horse go on to complete the Triple Crown — which hasn't happened since 2018 — their winnings could total $550,000, before taxes and fees. Both the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes again have a purse of $2 million (unless increases are announced ahead of the mid-May and June runs, respectively), giving the winner a $1.2 million payout. If the jockey receives 10% of that, they could see a $120,000 prize before taxes and other fees.
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