2025 Kentucky Derby Prize Money Revealed: Payouts and Purse at Churchill Downs

The victor of the year 2025 Kentucky Derby will earn more than $3 million dollars, thanks to a recent increase in the purse for the Run for the Roses, pushing the overall prize money to an all-time high.

A 20-horse field will compete for the top honor at Churchill Downs, the renowned racetrack Kentucky Derby Starting from the earliest running back position in 1875.

Nobody is offering a monetary prize as generous as what winning a race could bring, yet those participating—breeders, trainers, and jockeys—in the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby aim to secure their portion of the winnings set to be distributed amongst the leading five competitors in this inaugural event of the 2025 Triple Crown series.

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Below is the distribution for the 2025 Kentucky Derby prize money, featuring the winnings for the first-place finisher along with details on how to view the event:

Kentucky Derby purse for 2025: Prize money breakdown, winner earnings

In addition to various factors, the Kentucky Derby holds a spot as the highest-earning horse race in the U.S., and the 151st running of this event will feature a prize fund of $5 million at Churchill Downs.

For many years, the purse was valued at $3 million, but in 2024 it saw an increase of about sixty-six percent. The victor from last year, Mystik Dan, took away a prize of $5 million (of which ten percent went to victorious jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.). Meanwhile, the second-place finisher, Sierra Leone, received a consolation prize totaling exactly $1 million.

Here's the prize money breakdown for the 2025 Kentucky Derby:

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

Kentucky Derby 2025: Television, Streaming Options, and Where to Watch

When: Saturday, May 3
Coverage starts : 2:30 p.m. ET
Post time: 6:57 p.m. ET
Where: Churchill Downs (Louisville, Kentucky)
Cable TV: NBC, USA Network
Streaming: Fubo , Peacock

View the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Fubo TV

The article initially appeared on USA TODAY: In 2025, what you should know about the payouts and purse for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs—prize money details explained.