2025 Kentucky Derby purse: How much prize money will the winning owner and trainer earn

The Kentucky Derby (G1) is one of the richest horse races in North America. The purse for the 2025 edition is $5 million.

However, the purse is divided among many horses, owners, trainers, and jockeys. Have you ever wondered how much prize money the winning Kentucky Derby owner receives? Or how much prize money the trainer takes home? We have the answers.

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How the Kentucky Derby purse is paid out

While a maximum of 20 horses can start in the Kentucky Derby, only the top five finishers earn prize money. The purse distribution is broken down as follows:

1st: $3.1 million
2nd: $1 million
3rd: $500,000
4th: $250,000
5th: $150,000

How much prize money will the winning Kentucky Derby owner earn in 2025?

Exactly how much prize money a winning Kentucky Derby owner takes home is influenced by several of factors.

First off, in a typical arrangement the winning owner receives only 80% of the winning purse ($2.48 million in 2025), leaving 10% for the winning trainer and 10% for the winning jockey.

Secondly, entry fees cuts into the profits. It costs $25,000 to enter a horse in the Kentucky Derby and $25,000 to actually start in the race. Plus, there’s a minimum $600 Triple Crown nomination fee. This reduces the profitable portion of the winning purse to $2,429,400 before taxes.

Lastly, many Kentucky Derby horses are owned by partnerships involving two or more people, stables, groups, etc. Depending on the agreements of the partnership, and what percentage of the horse each entity owns, the winning purse must be divided between them.

As an example, when Mystik Dan won the 2024 Kentucky Derby, he campaigned for the partnership of Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, Daniel Hamby III, and Valley View Farm. Presumably, all four owners earned a portion of the prize money.

In addition to purse money, the winning owner receives a gold trophy.

How much prize money will the winning Kentucky Derby trainer earn in 2025?

As mentioned above, 10% of the first-place purse is typically awarded to the trainer of the Kentucky Derby winner. In 2025, this amounts to $310,000 before taxes.

The winning trainer also receives a silver trophy.