Here is all you need to know about the Kentucky Derby including its purse and how much does a jockey get paid in salary and prize money
The Kentucky Derby is one of the most coveted and thrilling event in which every year a cluster of horses compete for glory led by their jockeys. The Derby takes place in the Louisville City of Kentucky State of US. The competition will have it’s 150th edition on upcoming Saturday i.e- 4 May at 6:57 PM (ET).
The sporting event has huge crowds where alot of bets are placed and huge amount of money is traded at the Derby. However on the conclusion of race- the focus is not only on the owners but also the jockeys who are a pivotal part of the Derby event. Let’s take a glance at how much the jockeys get paid at Kentucky Derby.
Kentucky Derby 2024 jockey salary and how much does the winner make in the prize money purse
.@KentuckyDerby contender #HonorMarie finishes his jog one day before the Derby. pic.twitter.com/C0eWorORaX
— Sean Collins (@BH_SCollins) May 3, 2024
The total purse at Kentucky Derby is worth $5 million and even though it’s the jockey who leads the horse to the finishing line of glory it’s the owners who get their pockets filled.
As per the Gambleonline, the jockey of the horse winning the Kentucky Derby recieves around 10 percent of the total prize money. This means the prize money for the current year will be around $310,000.
However, not all of it goes to the jockeys. Of the $310,000 approximately 5% of it goes to the valet who assisted them with their gears and about 25% of it goes to their agents.
However this amount is not inclusive of taxes and for the second and third placed Jockeys payouts are lesser as they recieve around 5% of their owners share that’s before fees and taxes. As for the other jockeys the amount is quite low as they recieve a “couple of hundreds worth money only” as per jockey agent Ron Anderson.
Thus even though the payday for the owners is quite a bit more compared to jockeys, Jockeys also get a hefty share of money for the two and half minute race especially for those of whom who achieve the podium in the race.
The Kentucky Derby 2024 has increased its purse by 67% to a record $5 million for this year’s race, with $3.1 million going to the winner.