How much does a Kentucky Derby jockey make? Highest paid, average salary and more to know

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It shouldn't come as much of a surprise that a lot of money is annually on the line at the Kentucky Derby.

Millions of dollars in prize money gets split among top finishes at the horse race every year — and of that winning money, it gets split between a horse's team of the owner(s), trainers and jockeys.

A jockey at the Kentucky Derby may not receive as much money as others involved in the sport, especially the owner of a winning horse, but hundreds of thousands can still be at stake for the riders.

Here's what to know about how much a Kentucky Derby jockey makes.

MORE:When was the last Triple Crown winner?

How much does a Kentucky Derby jockey make?​

A Kentucky Derby jockey's pay can widely vary based on the success of the horse — typically, the jockeys are hired on a race-to-race basis, not a a long-term contract like in other sports.

Because of that, the amount a jockey makes varies greatly depending on their performance.

Kentucky Derby winner prize money​

In 2026, there is a total pursue of $5 million on the line at the Kentucky Derby, which will be split to the final positions:

• 1st: $3.1 million
• 2nd: $1 million
• 3rd: $500,000
• 4th: $250,000
• 5th: $150,000

However, there's many steps to be taken for a jockey to receive their cut of the horse's total winnings.

A typical winner's share will see around 80% go to the owner, with the trainer and jockey receiving 10% each. That would set up the 2026 Kentucky Derby winner to receive $310,000.

But of that jockey's cut, there are further arrangements to be made. Typically, around 25% will go to the jockey's agent and another 5% will go to the valet who helped prepare the jockey's riding gear.

That would leave the 2026 Kentucky Derby-winning jockey with a payout of around $217,000, which is before taxes.

The jockey's percentage cut of the second- and third-place winning horses also typically falls down to 5%, which, in 2026, would leave the jockey payouts at around $35,000 and $17,500, again before taxes, per Twin Spires.

While jockeys are the front-facing figures in the Kentucky Derby, their winning earnings are often small in comparison to the horse owner's.

Annual salary​

Jockeys are usually paid by race, earning a set amount up-front, then receiving considerably more from a cut of a winning horse's result. Because of that, annual salaries can widely vary.

However, according to Fan Odds, most jockeys will receive around $100-$500 per ride minimum, with annual salaries ranging from $20,000 to $1 million based on experience and success. Entry-level jockeys can reportedly earn between $30,000-$50,000 annually; jockeys can also earn money from endorsements and bonuses. Doubled Trailers also reports an annual average U.S. salary of $49,000, but with top jockeys earning over $25 million per year in prize cuts and sponsorships.

At the 2026 Kentucky Derby, each jockey who finishes below third place will receive a minimum $500 riding fee.

MORE: Bob Baffert's timeline of Kentucky Derby wins

Kentucky Derby jockey average salary​

Jockeys typically are paid on a per-race basis; the salary for a Kentucky Derby jockey widely varies based on the horse's result. While a winner might receive north of $200,000 in take-home pay, non-top-five finishers may only receive a few hundred dollars for their efforts.

According to Fan Odds, the average jockey salary in the United States is around $60,000-$80,000 annually. However, entry-level jockeys can earn an estimated $30,000-$50,000 annually, while experienced jockeys can make $100,000-$200,000 per year or more, including into the millions.

MORE: Where is Churchill Downs?

Highest-paid jockeys in horse racing​

Internationally, the horse racing jockey with the highest career earnings is Japan’s Yutaka Take, who has earned an estimated $971 million throughout his career, per OLBG, which includes over 4,500 wins. Other Japanese jockeys like Norihiro Yokoyama ($615 million) and Yuichi Fukunaga ($561 million) have also cleared the reported $500 million threshold.

Among jockeys in only the United States in Canada, however, there is only one who has made over $500 million: John R. Velazquez, who has totaled $519.1 million over 38,000-plus races, per Equibase, including Kentucky Derby wins in 2011, 2017 and 2020.

Here's a look at the top-10 highest-earning jockeys in the U.S. and Canada, according to Equibase.

Rank	Jockey	Starts	First Place	Total Earnings
1	John R. Velazquez	38,007	6,835	$519,114,137
2	Javier Castellano	33,603	5,971	$417,538,527
3	Irad Ortiz Jr.	21,697	4,433	$417,538,527
4	Mike E. Smith	35,043	5,802	$357,657,960
5	Joel Rosario	21,003	3,799	$347,116,425
6	Jose L. Ortiz	18,690	3,545	$304,805,371
7	Pat Day	40,299	8,803	$297,914,839
8	Kent J. Desormeaux	33,070	6,196	$296,450,929
9	Jerry D. Bailey	30,856	5,893	$296,113,529
10	Edgar S. Prado	39,725	7,119	$272,008,849

MORE:Full list of Kentucky Derby winners

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