Kentucky Derby winners will take home $5 million this year

This year’s Kentucky Derby airs on Saturday, and will award an eye-watering $5 million purse to the frontrunners of the world’s biggest horse race.

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00:00The Kentucky Derby's $5 million purse will be split between the top five frontrunners.

00:05First place will take home $3.1 million, a gold trophy, and possibly millions more as a stallion

00:11after retirement from racing, according to the Kentucky Derby website. Second place gets $1

00:16million, third $500,000, $250,000 to fourth, and $150,000 to fifth. Jockeys usually receive around

00:2410% of their winnings, with the rest of the money being divided between the owner and the trainer.

00:28The top five used to split a $3 million purse before the organization bumped it up to a record

00:34$5 million in 2024. This year, 20 horses will compete for first place, with teams hoping to

00:40cash in on that grand prize.