A brief look at the rich history of the Kentucky Derby will help you understand why it is one of the most-watched athletic events in the world. This is unlike any other race, with people making sure to clear their calendars just to catch the first leg of the Triple Crown. Famous people from different areas gather at Churchill Downs yearly to catch a glimpse of the Kentucky Derby, and this year is no different.
And of course, where there are celebrities, there’s likely a big pot of money. That’s the case as well for the 2023 Kentucky Derby, though, not quite literally. Nevertheless, the winning horse at Derby stands to cash in its owner (or owners) a huge check. The other top finishers also will receive big prizes, as broken down below.
With all that said, let’s take a look at the prizes the winning horse and the others are expected to win in the Run for the Roses.
The winning equine in the first leg of the 2023 Triple Crown this coming weekend will earn a total of $1.86 million. The third-place finisher will receive $300,000, while the runner-up will receive $600,000. The fourth-place finisher will pocket $150,000, and the fifth-place horse will receive a respectable $90,000. The prize pool exceeded $100,000 for the first time in Kentucky Derby history in 1954. The purse was set at $1 million from 1996 to 2004 and was raised to $2 million the following year.
