It feels good to own a fast horse that’s qualified to race at the Kentucky Derby. Apart from the fact that you can challenge almost anyone at the local bar who has a horse (it happens) to a race with full confidence that yours can beat theirs, it’s also very profitable. In fact, the winning horse in the first leg of this year’s Triple Crown is set to take home more money than what future Basketball Hall of Famer Pau Gasol is making this season in the NBA. That’s right, in 2019 the Total purse has jumped up by a full $1 million! Check out the complete purse breakdown for the 2019 Kentucky Derby, below.
There is added motivation for all participants of the 2019 Kentucky Derby to take finish first at Churchill Downs. Back in January, it was announced by Churchill Downs that the purse for the first leg of the Triple Crown has increased by a million dollars. From $2 million in 2018, the total payout is now at the $3 million level, which also resulted in an across-the-board uptick in payouts for horses that will finish first to fifth. However, there are no changes for the fees to paid by horse owners for pre-entry and entry fees.
The total purse for the Kentucky Derby was at $1 million from 1996 to 2004, then it was increased to $2 million in 2005.
