How much did Sovereignty win at Kentucky Derby? Full payout breakdown for jockey, owner of 2025 winning horse

Teddy Ricketson

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How much did Sovereignty win at Kentucky Derby? Full payout breakdown for jockey, owner of 2025 winning horse image

(Timothy D. Easley)

The Kentucky Derby is the biggest event in horse racing. It's the first race of the famous Triple Crown, but it comes with such pageantry that it just feels bigger. Winning this race instantly cements the horse, jockey, trainer, and owner into legendary status. 

While it isn't talked about as much, the winner of the Kentucky Derby goes home with a hefty payday. The biggest event in horse racing comes with a total purse of $5 million. Along with the recognition that comes from winning the event, the top five finishers will earn major bucks from placing at Churchill Downs. 

Here's more on who won the 2025 Kentucky Derby, and the prize money that comes with it. 

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Who won the Kentucky Derby 2025?

Sovereignty is this year's Kentucky Derby winner, just beating out the favorite, Journalism, to take the title. The horse started the race with 7-1 odds to win the race and came from behind on a muddy track to win the first leg of the Triple Crown.

How much does the winner of the Kentucky Derby make

Traditionally 20 horses compete in the Kentucky Derby, but due to late scratches, only 19 ran the race this year. The winner not only leaves with fame but also fortune. The owner of Sovereignty, Sheik Mohammed Al Maktoum of Godolphin, will take home a cool $3.1 million, with $310,000 going to the jockey Junior Alvarado. The total purse of the Kentucky Derby was $3 million in 2023, but it increased to $5 million in 2024. 

Kentucky Derby prize money breakdown

Even though 20 horses compete in the race, only five end up taking home a portion of the total purse. The Kentucky Derby has the highest prize pool out of all of the Triple Crown races. The total purse for the derby is $5 million, while the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes both have prize pools of $2 million as of 2024. 

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

Teddy Ricketson

Teddy Ricketson is a Digital Content Producer at The Sporting News. He joined the team in 2024 after spending the last three years writing for Vox Media as part of its DK Nation/Network team. Teddy does his best to support the South Carolina Gamecocks and Carolina Panthers, but tends to have more fun cheering on the Atlanta Braves. In his free time, he loves spending time with his wife, Brooke, and their two dogs, Bo and Hootie.