Kentucky Derby 2025 purse, payout: How much money did winner Sovereignty take home?
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Kentucky Derby 2025: Baffert's return, and Journalism is the horse to watch
Previewing the 151st Kentucky Derby, focusing on Journalism's chances and Bob Baffert's return.
Editor's note: Get all of the highlights and results from the 2025 Kentucky Derby here.
Another Kentucky Derby is in the books, and Sovereignty has emerged as the winner of the 151st running of horse racing's first Triple Crown race. The financial benefits of this will be wide-ranging, both immediately because of a record purse at this year's Run for the Roses and long-term thanks to the stud fees he will command moving forward.
This year, the Kentucky Derby purse that will be doled out among owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys will total $5 million for the second-straight year. Sovereignty is set to earn more than $3 million for winning the race. The other top five finishers also receive a share of the prize money. Churchill Downs officials increased the purse in 2024 from $3 million to a record $5 million.
Here is a breakdown of the 2025 Kentucky Derby purse and how much prize money each horse earned at Churchill Downs Saturday, including the winner's prize:
The Kentucky Derby is considered the most lucrative horse race in the United States, and the 151st edition will once again see a $5 million purse available at Churchill Downs.
Last year's winner, Mystik Dan, brought home a $3.1 million prize (with 10% of that going to winning jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.), while runner-up Sierra Leone got a $1 million consolation prize.
Here's the prize money breakdown for the 2025 Kentucky Derby:
Winner - Sovereignty: $3.1 million
2nd place - Journalism: $1 million
3rd place - Baeza: $500,000
4th place - Final Gambit: $250,000
5th place: $150,000
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