The Multi-Million-Dollar Financials Behind A Kentucky Derby Winning Horse (2024)

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The Multi-Million-Dollar Financials Behind A Kentucky Derby Winning Horse (1)

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Rich Strike won the 184th running of the Kentucky Derby this past weekend, and I think it’s probably one of the most impressive underdog stories in sports history.

The summary goes like this: Rick Dawson (owner) and Eric Reed (trainer) acquired Rich Strike from a $30,000 claiming race at Churchill Downs in September 2021.

A claiming race is a type of race where horses are put up for sale at a set price. The horse’s owner must agree to sell the horse if someone claims them during the race. If more than one person puts in a claim, they do what is called a shake —where one of the bidders is chosen at random through a draw.

But while these races are seen as the backbone of the sport, the odds indicate you have virtually no chance of acquiring a premium, Kentucky Derby-winning horse.

Still, Rick Dawson claimed Rich Strike for $30,000, and the training began. Rich Strike ran well in a few races over the last few months but finished at No. 21 on the Derby’s Top 20 list — that meant Rich Strike missed the cut by one spot & wouldn’t be racing.

Rick Dawson started to tell his family, friends, and staff that they wouldn’t be heading to Louisville, Kentucky. But then he got the call — Ethereal Road was being scratched from the race just 30-seconds before Friday’s deadline, and since Rich Strike was first on the alternate list, the horse would now be included in the race just 24 hours later.

“I couldn’t even breathe to answer and say yes,” Reed recalled to Sports Illustrated.

And as they say, the rest is history. Rich Strike started from post position 20 (the worst starting spot) and fell behind most of the field early on. But trainer Sonny Leon weaved through the pack and completed one of the greatest upsets in sports history.

Rich Strike’s odds closed at 80-1 before the race, and only one horse has won from worse odds in Derby history — Donerail won the 1913 Kentucky Derby at 91-1 odds.

Still, with the Kentucky Derby carrying one of the largest purses in sports, owner Rick Dawson turned his $30,000 investment into (at least) $1.86 million.

The Multi-Million-Dollar Financials Behind A Kentucky Derby Winning Horse (3)

There are other things to consider when calculating the profit that owner Rick Dawson might make with a horse like Rich Strike. Of course, you have to consider the cost of boarding, training, and grooming. But there is also the less-talked-about world of stud fees and breeding rights that typically end up being the most valuable part.

Now, I’m not an expert on this by any means. But I’ve done plenty of research on it in the past, and my hope is to at least provide some directional context on the industry.

So here’s what we know — Rich Strike is expected to race at the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, MD, on May 21. That’s the next step in Rich Strike’s attempt to win the coveted Triple Crown. But even if that doesn’t happen, the horse will still have a good market when it comes to stud fees and breeding rights.

Typically, a horse like Rich Strike might retire in twelve to eighteen months. Then it would be sent to a stud farm—that’s where horses are boarded and kept for breeding.

The stud fees are determined through various factors, including the winning history and performance of the horse, and even the performance of its immediate offspring.

So the range can be pretty wide, but the best horses can command $100,000-plus per live foal (baby horse) that they produce. And since they are expected to mate at least 100x per year, that adds up to about $10 million in annual income for the owner.

But sometimes, the breeding rights can sell for much higher, eye-watering amounts.

For example, Justify’s breeding rights were purchased for $75 million by Coolmore (described as the New York Yankees of Horse Racing) after he won the Triple Crown in 2018. They can pay such a high fee because they transport the horse between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, enabling them to increase annual breeding from 100x per year to roughly 250x per year.

Breeding Rights For The Last Five Triple Crown Winners

  • Justify (2018): $75 million by Coolmore (source)

  • American Pharoah (2015): $10 million by Coolmore (source)

  • Affirmed (1978): $14.4 million (source)

    • 86 stakes winners from 869 named foals with progeny earnings of nearly $55.8 million

  • Seattle Slew (1977): Undisclosed

    • Stud fee was as high as $800,000 in 1985 and was $300,000 at the time of his death in 2002 (source)

  • Secretariat (1973): $6.08 million (source)

But these are Triple Crown winners, and if Rich Strike doesn’t perform well at the Preakness Stakes, the breeding rights and stud fee can drop dramatically. For example, here are the reported stud fees for previous Kentucky Derby winners.

Stud Fee For The Last Six Kentucky Derby Winners

  • Mandaloun (2021): N/A (still racing)

  • Authentic (2020): $70,000 stud fee (source)

  • Country House (2019): $7,500 stud fee (source)

  • Justify (2018 - Triple Crown): See the above section

  • Always Dreaming (2017): $12,500 stud fee (source)

  • Nyquist (2016): $55,000 stud fee (source)

As you can see, stud fees are all over the place. But the general idea is that if the horse wins races, the fee goes up. And if the horse produces competitive offspring, the fee goes even higher. But if the horse doesn’t win more races, the fee can be reduced. And then if the horse also doesn’t produce competitive offspring, the fee can go even lower.

So only time will tell what the true economic value of a horse like Rich Strike is to its owner, but we know one thing for sure —it’s already much higher than $30,000.

I hope everyone has a great day. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.

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The Multi-Million-Dollar Financials Behind A Kentucky Derby Winning Horse (2024)

FAQs

What was the payout on the $2 bet for the Kentucky Derby? ›

UPDATE: Here are the 2023 Kentucky Derby payouts on a $2 bet: Mage: $32.42 to win, $14.58 to place, $9.08 to show. Two Phil's: $10.44 to place, $6.52 to show. Angel of Empire: $4.70 to show.

How much did Mage get for winning the Kentucky Derby? ›

Mage won $1.86 million for taking home victory in the 2023 Kentucky Derby. “We won the Kentucky Derby! Words don't do it Justice. What a day, what a ride, what a horse,” Commonwealth tweeted.

How much money does the winning horse get in the Kentucky Derby? ›

The purse for the 2023 Kentucky Derby was 3 million dollars, the highest purse in Triple Crown racing.

How much money does a horse earn for winning the Triple Crown? ›

How much do you earn from winning the Triple Crown in horse racing? The 2023 Triple Crown consists of three events: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. The total purse for the Kentucky Derby was $3 million, while the payout for the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes is $1.5 million.

Did anyone hit the superfecta in the Kentucky Derby? ›

Kentucky Derby Bettor Hits Superfecta for $28.5K in First Ever Racing Bet.

What did the Derby superfecta pay? ›

Kentucky Derby superfecta payout

For those who placed $1.00 superfecta bet on Mage, Two Phil's, Angel of Empire and Disarm to finish first through fourth in that exact order, you are winning $15,643.60! That is quite a large sum of money to be taking home.

How much does a jockey make? ›

This ranges from 8.5 to nine per cent of winning prize-money over jumps, depending on the race. It is 6.9 per cent on the Flat. Under both codes they take home 3.5 per cent of placed prize-money. The only deduction is a ten per cent cut to their agent.

What is the largest payout for the Kentucky Derby 2023? ›

Kentucky Derby 2023 Purse: Prize-Money Payout for Each Owner, Horse and Jockey. Mage defied odds and galloped into the history books with a win at the 2023 Kentucky Derby. He also earned his connections the biggest share of the $3 million purse at stake for the 149th running of the American Classic.

Did anyone pick Mage to win? ›

nails it, picking Mage to win Kentucky Derby.

How much does a jockey get paid to ride a horse in the Kentucky Derby? ›

How much money does the Kentucky Derby winner take home? The first-place winner will get $1.86 million, while the jockey will take home $186,000. The second-place finisher will take home $600,000, with the jockey taking home $30,000.

How much did the owner of Mage win? ›

Commonwealth app owners who bought shares of Kentucky Derby winner Mage will get a pre-tax payment of $94.52 per share (paid $50/share) for the win. Wow a -110 payout, pretty bad! They still keep their ownership in the horse which that value will go up significantly.

What is the highest paying horse to win? ›

By pocketing the HK$11.4 million Champions Mile first prize, Golden Sixty took his earnings to almost HK$148 million and sailed past the A$26.45 million [HK$137 million] wonder mare Winx banked during her incredible career.

What was the cheapest horse to win the Triple Crown? ›

Have you heard the name Seattle Slew? He won the Derby in 1977? "He sold at auction for $17,500," Chris said. "Went on to win the Triple Crown, and also had a successful breeding career."

What was Secretariat worth after he won the Triple Crown? ›

Secretariat was estimated to be worth nearly 7 million dollars after his triumph in the 1973 Triple Crown races.

How much does jockey get paid for winning Preakness? ›

How much does a jockey get paid for winning the Preakness? The winning jockey will receive $900,000, which is 60 percent of the total purse.

What was the worst odd horse to win the Kentucky Derby? ›

With odds of 91–1, winning horse Donerail is the longest odds winner in Kentucky Derby history.

What was the biggest bet for the Kentucky Derby? ›

Houston furniture store owner Jim McIngvale, known as "Mattress Mack", made his odds-shifting bet for the 2023 Kentucky Derby on Saturday with less than an hour before post time. Mattress Mack bet $1.2 million on Angel of Empire with about 50 minutes until post time, NBC's Steve Kornacki reported.

What is the highest paying superfecta ever? ›

The largest superfecta payout ever was an astonishing $864,253 on the 2005 Kentucky Derby. Can you imagine staking $1 on a horse race and winning nearly a million dollars? What an incredible feeling that would be!

How much is a $2 win place show bet? ›

Win/Place or Place/Show: Simply a combination of win & place or place & show. There are two combinations, so a $2 bet would cost $4 in total.

How much does a $1 superfecta bet cost? ›

The Superfecta Box has a $1 minimum bet per combination -- $24 minimum total cost. You can box four or more horses on a single ticket and wager $1 (or more) on each combination.

Who is the richest jockey? ›

Yutaka Take

Do jockeys get 10% of winnings? ›

The percentages a jockey receives for a Thoroughbred race range from 5% for a second- or third-place finish to 10% for first place. In less competitive races, the jockey's earnings can be as low as 0.50% for a third-place finish, 1% for placing second and perhaps 6%-10% for first place.

Do jockeys get paid if they don't win? ›

Even in a Triple Crown race, jockeys that don't finish in the top five make as little as $500. Often, jockeys have agents who take a cut of their pay. Most jockeys aren't making a run for the money but rather are racing for the love of the sport.

How much money does Churchill Downs make on Derby Day? ›

Churchill Downs, Kentucky Derby bring $400 million plus to Louisville.

How much does it cost to go to the Kentucky Derby? ›

Indeed, those interested in attending can visit Derby Experiences to see a variety of packages combining Derby and Oaks seats with access to exclusive lounges, hotels, transportation, accommodations and more. At the time of writing package prices ranged from roughly $1,270 to $7,370 per person.

How much does it cost to enter the Kentucky Derby? ›

2023 2-Day General Admission Pricing (includes both Kentucky Derby & Kentucky Oaks)
Purchase DatePrice
Nov. 18 – Dec. 31 at 11:59PM ET$100
Jan. 1 – Feb 28 at 11:59PM ET$110
March 1 – April 17 at 11:59PM ET$120
April 18 - Day Before Oaks Race$135

Is White Mage a female? ›

The official novelization Final Fantasy I * II * III: Memory of Heroes identifies the White Mage as a female.

Who is the strongest black mage? ›

10 Most Powerful Black Mages In Gaming, Ranked
  1. 1 Vivi Ornitier – Final Fantasy 9.
  2. 2 Jessica Albert – Dragon Quest 8. ...
  3. 3 Lulu – Final Fantasy 10. ...
  4. 4 Athos – Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade. ...
  5. 5 Millenia – Grandia 2. ...
  6. 6 Angela – Trials Of Mana. ...
  7. 7 Emma Millstein – Trails Of Cold Steel. ...
Mar 29, 2022

How do horse owners make money at the Kentucky Derby? ›

So how is the winning purse money split? Typically, the owner of the winning horse receives 80% of the purse, while the trainer and jockey earn 10% apiece. This means the owner of a Kentucky Derby winner picks up $1.488 million before taxes, while the trainer earns $186,000 before taxes.

Who is the richest jockey in America? ›

John Velazquez is the highest-earning jockey of all time in America, having amassed about $430 million USD in earnings throughout his long career. Born in Puerto Rico in 1971, he moved to New York City in 1990.

What is the maximum weight for a jockey in the Kentucky Derby? ›

The Kentucky Derby, for example, has a weight limit of 126 lb (57 kg) including the jockey's equipment. The weight of a jockey racing on the flat usually ranges from 108 to 118 lb (49 to 54 kg).

Who is the owner of Mage? ›

Barbara D. LivingstonMage's ownership group features a diverse group that's hoping to capture the second leg of the Triple Crown Saturday. Mage won the Kentucky Derby in his fourth career start for a four-pronged partnership.

Who is the founder of mage? ›

Tommy Dang - Co-Founder & CEO - Mage | LinkedIn.

Who founded mages guild? ›

The Mages Guild was founded by Vanus Galerion circa 2E 230 :6 [UOL 1] as a way of centralizing magic and thus moving away from the many separate groups (like the Psijic Order of which Galerion was a member) that had dominated the study of magic until that time.

What is the hardest bet to win in horse racing? ›

The granddaddy of all horse betting strategies is the Superfecta, the toughest bet in all of horse racing. The Superfecta is picking the top four finishers in exact order. Minimum entries 6 for a bet to be official.

What is the biggest bet ever placed on a horse? ›

Perhaps the biggest ever bet placed on a horse race was placed in 1987, when Kerry Packer chose to wager AU$7 million on a horse that he owned that was running in the Sydney Cup.

What is the highest paying occupation? ›

Highest-Paying Occupations
OCCUPATION2022 MEDIAN PAYPERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER NATIONAL MEDIAN
Chief Executives$189,520309.20%
Orthodontists$174,360276.50%
Computer and Information Systems Managers$164,070254.30%
Architectural and Engineering Managers$159,920245.30%
17 more rows

Who is the fastest horse of all time? ›

Secretariat (March 30, 1970 – October 4, 1989), also known as Big Red, was a champion American thoroughbred racehorse who is the ninth winner of the American Triple Crown, setting and still holding the fastest time record in all three races. He is considered by many to be the greatest racehorse of all time.

What was Secretariat's lifetime winnings? ›

$1,316,808 – The total purse earnings amassed by Secretariat during his racing career. $3,021,025 – Lifetime earnings of Lady's Secret, the leading earning racehorse sired by Secretariat. Lady's Secret was named Horse of the Year in 1986 when she won 10 of 15 starts, including the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

How much does it cost to enter a horse in the Triple Crown? ›

After the running of the Kentucky Derby, the supplemental fee to nominate to the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes is $150,000; and after the Preakness the supplemental fee to nominate to the Belmont Stakes is $50,000.

Who owned Secretariat when he died? ›

Penny Chenery passed away September 18th at the age of 95. Following Secretariat's retirement from racing, Chenery became an ambassador for Thoroughbred racing and remained so, even after the champion's death in 1989.

Why was Secretariat euthanized? ›

Swerczek had been difficult to reach the day Secretariat was euthanized due to being with his son, Michael, who had been critically injured in an automobile accident.

Who was faster Secretariat or man o war? ›

Conclusion. While it was impossible to see the two horses race against one another, Man O'War can be considered the better racer because of its impressive career record, ability to win in poorer racing conditions, and implied faster speed due to its lengthy stride.

What is the top salary for a jockey? ›

The salaries of Horse Jockeys in the US range from $10,049 to $271,427 , with a median salary of $48,880 . The middle 57% of Horse Jockeys makes between $48,882 and $123,036, with the top 86% making $271,427.

How much does the average horse jockey make a year? ›

How Much Do Jockeys Make? According to HorseyHooves.com, the average salary for a jockey is $52,737. The average jockey's salary ranges, depending upon multiple factors including the number of races they compete in, the class level of race, and where they place in each race they ride.

How much did Secretariat's jockey make? ›

In all, Turcotte won 3,032 races with more than $28.6 million in career purse earnings. Turcotte's life took a challenging turn in 1978 when a riding accident left him a paraplegic.

What was the payout for rich strike? ›

The exacta of Rich Strike and Epicenter paid $4,101.20 on a $2 bet, the trifecta of Rich Strike, Epicenter and Zandon paid $14,870.70 on a $1 bet, and the superfecta of Rich Strike, Epicenter, Zandon and Simplification paid $321,500.10 on a $1 bet.

How much did you win if you bet on rich strike? ›

So, how much did he win his bettors? The short answer – a lot. A $2 exacta with second-place finisher Epicenter paid $4,101.20. A $1 trifecta paid $14,870.70, and the $1 superfecta paid a cool $321,500.10.

What is the prize money for the 2023 Kentucky Derby? ›

The purse for the 2023 Kentucky Derby was $3 million, the highest purse of the Triple Crown races. $1.86 million of that amount, will be for the winning horse's owner, Gustavo Delgado, while winning jockey Javier Castellano will take 10% of that amount, $186,000.

What happens if you bet a horse to win and he places? ›

PLACE– When you bet on your horse to “place,” you're betting that he will come in first OR second. If your horse finishes in first or second, you get to collect. Payout for a place bet is less than a win wager, but you do have the security of being able to cash in if your horse finishes in the top two spots.

How much is a 4 horse $1 exacta box? ›

A $1 exacta box of four horses would be calculated as 4 * (4-1) * $1 = $12, which equates to 12 $1 exacta bets. You can box as many horses as you like in an exacta, but this is not generally a wise betting strategy simply because all of the horses in the box do not have the same chance of finishing first or second.

What happens if you bet a horse to show and he wins? ›

You will receive a payout on both the win and show bet if your selected horse wins the race. However, if your horse comes in third place, you will only win the show bet.

How much did a $10 bet on Rich Strike win? ›

Rich Strike, a late entrant in the grandest horse race, went off at 80-1 odds. Meaning a $10 Win bet on the Derby winner would've returned $818. He stunned the sports world on Saturday by winning by three-quarters of a length over second-place finisher Epicenter (4-1 favorite).

How much does a jockey make per race? ›

Riders also get performance-related pay in the shape of a percentage of any prize-money their mounts earn. This ranges from 8.5 to nine per cent of winning prize-money over jumps, depending on the race. It is 6.9 per cent on the Flat. Under both codes they take home 3.5 per cent of placed prize-money.

Is Rich Strike in the 2023 Kentucky Derby? ›

Rich Strike, winner of the 2022 Kentucky Derby as an 80-1 long shot, returned to Churchill Downs to make his 2023 racing debut on Friday.

How much do you win if you bet $100 on the Kentucky Derby? ›

The horse in the Kentucky Derby with the lowest odds is favored to win the race and the rest of the horses are underdogs at Churchill Downs. If you think Forte will win the Kentucky Derby and you bet $100 on that horse, you'd get a payout of $500. You get your $100 back plus your winnings of $400.

Is Rich Strike a male or female? ›

Rich Strike is a 4 year old colt and has raced from 2021 to 2023. He was sired by Keen Ice out of the Smart Strike mare Gold Strike. He was trained by Eric Reed and has raced for Richard Dawson, and was bred in Kentucky, United States by Calumet Farm.

How much does a jockey weigh? ›

They must be light, typically around a weight of 100-120 lb., and physically fit. They are typically self-employed and are paid a small fee from the horse trainer and a percentage of the horse's winnings.

How much does it cost to enter a horse in the Kentucky Derby? ›

The cost to enter a horse in the Kentucky Derby is determined by the 2019 Racing Secretary's Office of Churchill Downs and typically involves an entry fee of $25,000. In addition to the entry fee, there is also an additional fee of $1,000 for each “nominated horse,” which must be paid in two payments.

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