How is prize money split in horse racing?

In American racing, the winner typically receives 60% of the total purse, second place gets 20%, third place 10%, and smaller shares go to fourth and fifth. The winner's share is then split among the owner (about 80%), trainer (about 10%), and jockey (about 10%). European and international races may use different splits.

How much does the Kentucky Derby winner get?

The Kentucky Derby has a total purse of $5,000,000. The winner receives 60% of the purse, which is $3,000,000. After the standard split, the owner takes home roughly $2,400,000, the trainer receives about $300,000, and the jockey earns about $300,000.

What percentage does a horse trainer get?

In North American horse racing, trainers typically receive about 10% of the prize money earned by their horse. In the UK, the standard trainer share is also around 10%, though exact terms vary by contract. Use the custom split editor above to calculate exact amounts for any percentage.

Horse Racing Prize Money Calculator - Owner, Trainer & Jockey Splits

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Total Purse

Prize Distribution by Position

Purse split across finishing positions

Winner's Share Breakdown

How the first-place prize is divided among stakeholders

Custom Split Editor

Adjust the owner/trainer/jockey percentages

Owner

80%

Trainer

10%

Jockey

10%

Major Races Comparison

Race	Total Purse	Winner's Share	Currency

Understanding Horse Racing Prize Money

Prize money in horse racing -- often called the "purse" -- is the total amount of money distributed to connections of the horses that finish in the top positions. The purse varies dramatically depending on the prestige and grade of the race, from a few thousand at local tracks to tens of millions at marquee events like the Dubai World Cup.

How Prize Money Is Split by Position

Most races distribute the purse across the top five or six finishers, with the winner taking the lion's share. In American racing, the winner typically receives 60% of the total purse, with second place earning around 20%, third 10%, and smaller shares for fourth and fifth. European and international races sometimes use different splits -- the Cheltenham Gold Cup, for example, pays down to fourth place, while Japanese racing distributes to fifth.

Owner, Trainer, and Jockey Shares

The prize money awarded for a horse's finishing position is further divided among the horse's connections. The standard split in North American racing gives roughly 80% to the owner, 10% to the trainer, and 10% to the jockey. In the UK, the split differs: trainers typically receive around 10% and jockeys around 8-9%, with the exact terms varying by contract.

The World's Richest Races

The Dubai World Cup tops the global purse rankings at $12 million, followed by the Breeders' Cup Classic at $7 million. Japan Cup (JPY700 million) and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (EUR5 million) represent the pinnacle of racing in Asia and Europe respectively. The Kentucky Derby, America's most famous race, carries a purse of $5 million.

Dubai World Cup -- $12,000,000 (richest race in the world)
Breeders' Cup Classic -- $7,000,000
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe -- EUR5,000,000
Kentucky Derby -- $5,000,000
Melbourne Cup -- AUD8,000,000
Japan Cup -- JPY700,000,000

Factors Affecting Prize Money

Race purses are funded by a combination of sources: track revenue (betting handle commissions), entry fees and nominations, sponsorship deals, and government or racing authority subsidies. Tracks in jurisdictions with strong gambling revenue -- like Hong Kong, Japan, and the Middle East -- tend to offer the richest purses. Prize money can also fluctuate year to year based on betting handle performance and sponsorship changes.