Jockeys in the Kentucky Derby typically earn a guaranteed riding fee of at least $500 just for participating in the race. However, the significant earnings come from prize money if their horse finishes in the top positions. The total purse for the 2025 Kentucky Derby is $5 million, with $3.1 million awarded to the winning horse's connections. The prize money is usually split with 80% going to the horse's owner, 10% to the trainer, and 10% to the jockey. Therefore, the winning jockey in the 2025 Kentucky Derby will earn about $310,000, which is 10% of the $3.1 million winner's share. This amount may be further divided with the jockey's agent and valet

. Jockeys who finish second and third typically receive about 5% of the purse for their positions, translating to approximately $50,000 and $25,000 respectively. The minimum payout for participating jockeys is around $500

. In summary:

• Guaranteed riding fee: at least $500
• Winning jockey's share: about $310,000 (10% of winner's $3.1 million purse)
• Second place jockey: about $50,000 (5% of $1 million)
• Third place jockey: about $25,000 (5% of $500,000)
• Amounts may be shared with the jockey's agent and valet

This structure makes the Kentucky Derby one of the most lucrative races for jockeys in the sport