The 151st running of the Kentucky Derby just served up a plot twist straight outta a fairy tale. Yep, Sovereignty snatched the crown and ran off into the history books, leaving Journalism in the dust right at the wire! Under the roaring chaos of a record-breaking 147,406 Derby crowd, the real drama unfolded in those final furlongs. Journalism, the hot-shot favorite everyone had been betting on all week, put up a gutsy surge around the final bend, but Sovereignty wasn’t having it. The dark horse dug in, matched stride for stride, then turned on the afterburners like it had a date with destiny. Citizen Bull and Neoequos gave it their best up front early, but they faded once the real showdown kicked in.

And at the center of it all? Junior Alvarado, the Venezuelan heart and soul behind this royal ride, finally got his golden Derby moment. With joy painted all over his face, the 38-year-old jockey told NBC, “It means the world to me. My family’s here. I thought I had a great chance,” and yes, he even shouted out to his folks with some love in Spanish. The confetti wasn’t even settled before fans were already wondering how many coins Sovereignty and his crew were cashing in after the epic W. Sit tight because the bag they’re bringing home is gonna be just as legendary as the run.

The 2025 edition of the Derby dished out a jaw-dropping $5 million purse for the second year in a row, and Sovereignty? Oh, that majestic beast galloped straight into a $3.1 million winner’s payday like it was born for glory. Out of that, jockey Junior Alvarado typically takes home around 10%—roughly $310,000—before taxes, trainer fees, and agent cuts. The bulk of the winnings go to Sovereignty’s owner and trainer, whose names are quickly becoming Derby royalty.

Journalism, even after getting outpaced in the final heartbeat of the race, didn’t walk away empty-hoofed either; $1 million ain’t exactly pocket change, right?

Now let’s zoom out a little; this Derby isn’t just about a fancy hat event; it’s literally galloping closer to the crown jewel of cash prizes in North American horse racing: the Breeders’ Cup Classic, which flashes a sweet $7 million payout. The Derby might be the middle child in the Triple Crown lineup, but when it comes to prestige and cold hard cash, it’s clearly the favorite in Grandma’s will. Just to put it into perspective, the Belmont Stakes and Preakness Stakes, big names, no doubt, each trail behind with $2 million purses. And guess what? This cash wave only started recently! As of 2023, the Derby’s purse was $3 million, and before 2019? Just $2 mil. Yep, glow-ups happen in horse racing too.

And who’s behind this money-fueled makeover? Churchill Downs Inc.! These folks have been going full throttle since 2018, pouring over $1 billion into Kentucky Derby’s racing scene like it’s their personal passion project. Their mega investment wasn’t just a facelift; it upgraded the entire infrastructure and gave the sport a shiny, high-rolling future. Thanks to their deep pockets and vision, the Derby’s purse got supersized, turning this already iconic race into a jackpot showdown that’s got everyone from jockeys to fans racing for more. And what about the full payment breakdown? Yup, we got you covered!

Kentucky Derby prize money’s full breakdown!

Oh, you thought crossing the finish line first was just about bragging rights and roses? Nah, it’s about bagging that sweet, sweet $3.1 million chunk of that juicy $5 million Kentucky Derby purse. Yep, the fastest hooves get the fattest check; more than 60% of the loot goes to the winner alone! And no wonder folks call it the greatest two minutes in sports, because if your horse ain’t first, your wallet’s feeling it. And don’t forget, that golden trophy? Only the owner gets the glitzy version. Everyone else, the jockey, trainer, and breeder, gets baby silver replicas, bless their hearts.

So how does the cash get carved up, you ask? Picture this: the owner snags 80% of the spoils (that’s $2.48 million for doing all the rich people things), while the trainer and jockey each trot off with $310,000. Not bad for a couple minutes of heart-pounding speed and strategy, huh? But it ain’t just the gold that shines here. Second place gets a cool $1 million, third walks off with half a mil, and fourth and fifth grab $250K and $150K. Everyone else? Zero. Nada. Thanks for showing up, and better luck next year.

Speaking of cash burn, let’s just say this ain’t your neighborhood pony ride. Owners drop hundreds of thousands just to buy a thoroughbred, and then it’s another $50K or more every year to keep ‘em race-ready. And if you’re dreaming of that Derby starting gate? Get ready to cough up $600 early, or $6K if you’re fashionably late. And if you’re real late? $200K. Yep. Just to nominate your horse. Then you gotta throw down $25K to enter, another $25K to make ‘em eligible, and $500 for a jockey’s ride. So if your horse finishes sixth? That’s a whole lotta heartbreak and explosive bills, my friend. Which is exactly why the Kentucky Derby win feels like striking gold in glittery horse boots.