How much do jockeys make at 2025 Kentucky Derby? Prize money, payout for winning
(This story has been updated with news that Rodriguez and Grande were scratched from the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Thursday and Friday, respectively).
The 151st Kentucky Derby is just days away, slated for May 3 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
A $5 million purse will be up for grabs, with the winner taking home $3.1 million. The 2025 purse matches the record-breaking purse from 2024.
On a race card, three prominent names are usually featured next to the horse running: The owner, the trainer and the jockey. Depending on agreements between jockeys and trainers, each usually earns a percentage of the prize money if their thoroughbred is the victor.
Here's what you need to know about how much a jockey earns at the Kentucky Derby:
How much does a jockey make?
Jockeys are typically hired on a race-to-race basis rather than a long-term contract, which is common in other sports, according to federal research. Jockeys typically earn a set amount up front and then earn 5-10% earnings in prize money for races they win.
Brian Hernandez Jr. was the winning jockey last year on the horse Mystic Dan and earned 10% of the winnings.
How much did the winning jockey make in 2024?
According to the Kentucky Derby, Hernandez took home $310,000 for riding Mystic Dan to victory in the 150th Kentucky Derby last year on May 4. Opening at 18:1 odds, Hernandez rode Mystic Dan to a victory in a three-way photo finish.
How much will the winning jockey in the 2025 Kentucky Derby earn?
Just as it was last year, the purse for the 2025 Kentucky Derby is set for $5 million. Once again, the winning combination of jockey and horse will earn $3.1 million, with the other top-five finishers earning a separate payout.
The Kentucky Derby ― the "Run for the Roses” ― typically features the highest purse of the Triple Crown races. Both the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes paid out a purse of $2 million in 2024.
Jockeys in 2025 Kentucky Derby
Here's a look at the jockeys on horses in the 2025 Kentucky Derby:
- Martin Garcia (Citizen Bull): Two career wins
- Flavien Prat (Neoquos): 84 career wins
- Luan Machado (Final Gambit): 58 career wins
- Mike E. Smith (Rodriguez): 11 career wins — SCRATCHED
- Nik Juarez (American Promise): 15 career wins
- Christophe Lemaire (Admire Dayton): Two career wins
- Joao Moreira (Luxor Cafe): Two career wins
- Umberto Rispoli (Journalism): 43 career wins
- Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. (Burnham Square): 42 career wins
- John R. Velazquez (Grande): 29 career wins — SCRATCHED
- Joseph D. Ramos (Flying Mohawk): 49 career wins
- Manuel Franco (East Avenue): 89 career wins
- Irad Ortiz Jr. (Publisher): 104 career wins
- Joel Rosario (Tiztastic): 24 career wins
- Julien R. Leparoux (Render Judgement): 23 career wins
- Juan P. Vargas (Coal Battle): 14 career wins
- Jose L. Ortiz (Sandman): 92 career wins
- Junior Alvarado (Sovereignty): 39 career wins
- Jareth Loveberry (Chunk of Gold): 41 career wins
- Javier Castellano (Owen Almighty): 34 career wins