The staggering sum the 2025 Kentucky Derby winner will take home

The purse for the 2025 derby is $5 million and $3.1 million of that will go to the winning horse of the race. 

That prize is split three ways between the three prominent names on the race card: the owner, the trainer and the jockey.

How much each receives is all dependent on their personal agreement but jockeys typically are paid a set amount up front and then can earn anywhere between five to 10% of the prize money.

In 2024 winning jockey Brian Hernandez took home $310,000 for riding Mystic Dan; that was 10% of the pot.

Soverignity won the 2025 derby; the horse is owned by the Godolphin group and it's trainer is William Mott.

"It means the world to me. My family's here. I thought I had a great chance," Alvarado, whose father was also a jockey, said.

The other top-five finishers also earn a separate payout.

Second place takes home $1 million, third place $500,000, fourth place will win $250,000 and fifth place $150,000.

The Kentucky Derby is an American Grade I stakes race that is always run by three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of 1.25 miles. 

It is arguably the most prestigious horse race in the world, and is also the longest continually held sporting event in America.

The Derby is on May 3, 2025 and coverage begins at 2.30/1.30c.

The post time for the race is 7.02pm EST and it will take place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

The race is available on NBC and the USA Network and is also streaming on Peacock.