Horse racing prize money
997 of the biggest races in the world, worth £331.7m between them, with every winner each one has had: 52,507 runnings, and the jockey, the trainer and the horse that took the money each time.
The racehorses that win the biggest races
Wins in the 997 races on this site
| # | Horse | Wins | Span | Biggest win | Worth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kingston Town | 17 | 1979 to 1982 | Australian Derby | £1,058,201£1.1m |
| 2 | Phar Lap | 16 | 1929 to 1931 | Melbourne Cup | £5,291,005£5.3m |
| 3 | Tulloch | 16 | 1956 to 1961 | Australian Derby | £1,058,201£1.1m |
| 4 | High Caste | 16 | 1939 to 1942 | Coolmore Stud Stakes | £1,058,201£1.1m |
| 5 | Hydrogen | 16 | 1951 to 2003 | Hill Stakes | £1,058,201£1.1m |
| 6 | Cirrus des Aigles | 15 | 2009 to 2015 | Dubai Sheema Classic | £4,511,278£4.5m |
| 7 | Lonhro | 15 | 2001 to 2004 | Arrowfield 3YO Sprint | £529,101 |
| 8 | Sunline | 14 | 1998 to 2002 | Hong Kong Mile | £3,040,000£3.0m |
| 9 | Chatham | 14 | 1931 to 1969 | Doncaster Handicap | £2,116,402£2.1m |
| 10 | Winx | 14 | 2014 to 2019 | Doncaster Handicap | £2,116,402£2.1m |
| 11 | Kauto Star | 14 | 2005 to 2011 | Cheltenham Gold Cup | £646,880 |
| 12 | Lombard | 14 | 1912 to 1973 | Durban July Handicap | £427,000 |
| 13 | Goldikova | 13 | 2008 to 2011 | Breeders' Cup Mile | £1,503,759£1.5m |
| 14 | Limerick | 13 | 1926 to 1929 | Hill Stakes | £1,058,201£1.1m |
| 15 | Super Elegant | 13 | 2000 to 2005 | Australia Stakes | £185,185 |
| 16 | Acatenango | 12 | 1985 to 1987 | Deutsches Derby | £555,556 |
| 17 | Juggler | 12 | 1901 to 1997 | Caulfield Stakes | £529,101 |
| 18 | Skalleti | 12 | 2019 to 2023 | Prix Aga Khan IV (Prix d'Ispahan) | £213,675 |
| 19 | Rebel's Romance | 11 | 2021 to 2026 | Dubai Sheema Classic | £4,511,278£4.5m |
| 20 | Beauty Generation | 11 | 2017 to 2020 | Hong Kong Mile | £3,040,000£3.0m |
The jockeys who ride them
Wins in the same 997 races
| # | Jockey | Wins | Races | Span | Biggest win | Worth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christophe Soumillon | 460 | 155 | 2000 to 2026 | Dubai World Cup | £9,022,556£9.0m |
| 2 | Frankie Dettori | 434 | 187 | 1989 to 2025 | Dubai World Cup | £9,022,556£9.0m |
| 3 | Olivier Peslier | 416 | 152 | 1992 to 2022 | Japan Cup | £5,493,600£5.5m |
| 4 | Cash Asmussen | 304 | 134 | 1980 to 2000 | Japan Cup | £5,493,600£5.5m |
| 5 | Freddy Head | 290 | 113 | 1966 to 1997 | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | £4,273,504£4.3m |
| 6 | Mike E. Smith | 268 | 116 | 1986 to 2026 | Dubai World Cup | £9,022,556£9.0m |
| 7 | John R. Velazquez | 268 | 114 | 1991 to 2026 | Breeders' Cup Classic | £5,263,158£5.3m |
| 8 | Gérald Mossé | 247 | 126 | 1985 to 2023 | Melbourne Cup | £5,291,005£5.3m |
| 9 | Thierry Jarnet | 239 | 106 | 1988 to 2016 | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | £4,273,504£4.3m |
| 10 | Mickael Barzalona | 237 | 124 | 2010 to 2026 | Dubai World Cup | £9,022,556£9.0m |
| 11 | Ryan Moore | 228 | 106 | 2004 to 2026 | Japan Cup | £5,493,600£5.5m |
| 12 | Pat Eddery | 225 | 105 | 1971 to 2003 | Japan Cup | £5,493,600£5.5m |
| 13 | Pat Day | 221 | 105 | 1976 to 2004 | Breeders' Cup Classic | £5,263,158£5.3m |
| 14 | Lester Piggott | 211 | 91 | 1951 to 1994 | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | £4,273,504£4.3m |
| 15 | William Buick | 206 | 109 | 2008 to 2026 | Dubai World Cup | £9,022,556£9.0m |
| 16 | Maxime Guyon | 203 | 100 | 2009 to 2026 | Dubai Turf | £4,511,278£4.5m |
| 17 | Yves Saint-Martin | 201 | 97 | 1963 to 1987 | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | £4,273,504£4.3m |
| 18 | Javier Castellano | 193 | 101 | 2001 to 2026 | Breeders' Cup Classic | £5,263,158£5.3m |
| 19 | Bill Shoemaker | 193 | 59 | 1950 to 1988 | Breeders' Cup Classic | £5,263,158£5.3m |
| 20 | Andrasch Starke | 192 | 63 | 1992 to 2025 | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | £4,273,504£4.3m |
The prize belongs to the owner. A jockey takes a percentage of it, set by the rules of whichever country the race is run in.
The trainers behind them
Wins in the same 997 races
| # | Trainer | Wins | Races | Span | Biggest win | Worth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | André Fabre | 893 | 156 | 1980 to 2026 | Breeders' Cup Classic | £5,263,158£5.3m |
| 2 | Aidan O'Brien | 385 | 97 | 1996 to 2026 | Dubai Sheema Classic | £4,511,278£4.5m |
| 3 | Bob Baffert | 377 | 99 | 1992 to 2026 | Dubai World Cup | £9,022,556£9.0m |
| 4 | Saeed bin Suroor | 318 | 122 | 1995 to 2026 | Dubai World Cup | £9,022,556£9.0m |
| 5 | Alain de Royer-Dupré | 307 | 114 | 1982 to 2021 | Melbourne Cup | £5,291,005£5.3m |
| 6 | Criquette Head | 300 | 100 | 1978 to 2016 | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | £4,273,504£4.3m |
| 7 | Todd A. Pletcher | 289 | 107 | 1998 to 2026 | Breeders' Cup Classic | £5,263,158£5.3m |
| 8 | François Boutin | 272 | 105 | 1970 to 1994 | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | £1,503,759£1.5m |
| 9 | D. Wayne Lukas | 265 | 113 | 1978 to 2025 | Breeders' Cup Classic | £5,263,158£5.3m |
| 10 | Paul Nicholls | 255 | 66 | 1994 to 2026 | Cheltenham Gold Cup | £646,880 |
| 11 | William I. Mott | 230 | 102 | 1983 to 2026 | Dubai World Cup | £9,022,556£9.0m |
| 12 | John Gosden | 229 | 112 | 1983 to 2026 | Breeders' Cup Classic | £5,263,158£5.3m |
| 13 | Jean-Claude Rouget | 220 | 91 | 1989 to 2026 | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | £4,273,504£4.3m |
| 14 | Heinz Jentzsch | 220 | 50 | 1967 to 1999 | Japan Cup | £5,493,600£5.5m |
| 15 | Nicky Henderson | 215 | 67 | 1983 to 2026 | Cheltenham Gold Cup | £646,880 |
| 16 | Peter Schiergen | 215 | 68 | 1998 to 2026 | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | £4,273,504£4.3m |
| 17 | Michael Stoute | 190 | 75 | 1977 to 2023 | Dubai World Cup | £9,022,556£9.0m |
| 18 | Charlie Appleby | 186 | 103 | 2013 to 2026 | Melbourne Cup | £5,291,005£5.3m |
| 19 | Chad C. Brown | 182 | 74 | 2008 to 2026 | Breeders' Cup Classic | £5,263,158£5.3m |
| 20 | Pascal Bary | 181 | 93 | 1982 to 2024 | Dubai World Cup | £9,022,556£9.0m |
The owners who pay for them
Wins in the same 997 races
| # | Owner | Wins | Races | Span | Biggest win | Worth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Godolphin | 585 | 217 | 1994 to 2026 | Dubai World Cup | £9,022,556£9.0m |
| 2 | Juddmonte | 361 | 178 | 1980 to 2026 | Dubai World Cup | £9,022,556£9.0m |
| 3 | HH Aga Khan IV | 334 | 114 | 1960 to 2024 | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | £4,273,504£4.3m |
| 4 | Daniel Wildenstein | 248 | 102 | 1970 to 2015 | Breeders' Cup Classic | £5,263,158£5.3m |
| 5 | Sheikh Mohammed | 237 | 118 | 1983 to 2010 | Dubai World Cup | £9,022,556£9.0m |
| 6 | Wertheimer et Frère | 201 | 112 | 1996 to 2026 | Dubai Turf | £4,511,278£4.5m |
| 7 | Niarchos Family | 190 | 85 | 1979 to 2019 | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | £4,273,504£4.3m |
| 8 | Calumet Farm | 137 | 58 | 1937 to 2026 | Kentucky Derby | £3,759,399£3.8m |
| 9 | Hamdan Al Maktoum | 120 | 73 | 1983 to 2020 | Dubai World Cup | £9,022,556£9.0m |
| 10 | Jacques Wertheimer | 103 | 68 | 1975 to 1995 | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | £4,273,504£4.3m |
| 11 | Ogden Phipps | 78 | 47 | 1936 to 2000 | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies | £1,503,759£1.5m |
| 12 | Robert Sangster | 75 | 47 | 1976 to 1997 | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | £4,273,504£4.3m |
| 13 | Greentree Stable | 73 | 32 | 1923 to 1992 | Kentucky Derby | £3,759,399£3.8m |
| 14 | Maktoum Al Maktoum | 71 | 54 | 1982 to 2005 | Dubai Sheema Classic | £4,511,278£4.5m |
| 15 | Allen E. Paulson | 70 | 56 | 1985 to 2004 | Dubai World Cup | £9,022,556£9.0m |
| 16 | Jean-Luc Lagardère | 68 | 43 | 1979 to 2002 | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | £4,273,504£4.3m |
| 17 | Sam-Son Farm | 67 | 28 | 1974 to 2013 | Breeders' Cup Turf | £3,759,399£3.8m |
| 18 | Mahmoud Fustok | 67 | 46 | 1979 to 1988 | Grand Prix de Paris | £512,821 |
| 19 | Frank Stronach | 59 | 40 | 1983 to 2025 | Breeders' Cup Classic | £5,263,158£5.3m |
| 20 | Belair Stud | 53 | 23 | 1924 to 1955 | Kentucky Derby | £3,759,399£3.8m |
The owner is the only party in racing paid the prize rather than a percentage of it: 80 pence in the pound of a British Flat purse and 75 in France.
The twelve richest races in the world
Converted from 12 currencies
Three of the top five are Australian and none of the top three is European. Racing's money moved to the southern hemisphere and the Gulf while its history stayed in England and Kentucky, which is why a list ranked by purse reads nothing like a list ranked by fame.
The richest race in every country
15 countries, by what their races put up between them
| # | Country | Races | Total prize money | Richest race | Worth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 298 | £97,682,667£97.7m | The Everest | £10,582,011£10.6m |
| 2 | United States | 203 | £93,985,714£94.0m | Breeders' Cup Classic | £5,263,158£5.3m |
| 3 | Hong Kong | 16 | £27,336,250£27.3m | Hong Kong Cup | £3,800,000£3.8m |
| 4 | France | 132 | £25,925,641£25.9m | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | £4,273,504£4.3m |
| 5 | United Arab Emirates | 31 | £25,219,986£25.2m | Dubai World Cup | £9,022,556£9.0m |
| 6 | Great Britain | 125 | £19,730,552£19.7m | Epsom Derby | £1,500,000£1.5m |
| 7 | Japan | 25 | £13,499,136£13.5m | Japan Cup | £5,493,600£5.5m |
| 8 | New Zealand | 37 | £7,515,141£7.5m | New Zealand Derby | £551,125 |
| 9 | Saudi Arabia | 5 | £5,628,750£5.6m | Saudi Cup | £3,950,000£4.0m |
| 10 | Germany | 50 | £4,190,598£4.2m | Deutsches Derby | £555,556 |
| 11 | Italy | 32 | £3,663,001£3.7m | Derby Italiano | £447,692 |
| 12 | Canada | 25 | £2,842,608£2.8m | King's Plate | £536,800 |
| 13 | Ireland | 10 | £1,617,521£1.6m | Irish Derby | £854,701 |
| 14 | Singapore | 3 | £1,395,360£1.4m | Kranji Mile | £581,400 |
| 15 | South Africa | 3 | £657,580 | Durban July Handicap | £427,000 |
Frequently asked questions
How much prize money is there in horse racing?
The 997 races on this site put up £331,713,813 between them, across 15 countries and 12 currencies. The Everest is the richest of them at £10,582,011.
Which racehorse has won the most big races?
Kingston Town has won the most of these races: 17, between 1979 and 1982. The biggest of them is the Australian Derby, worth £1,058,201. These are wins in the races on this site, not a career record across every start the horse ever had.
Which jockey has ridden the most big-race winners?
Christophe Soumillon, with 460 wins across 155 of these races between 2000 and 2026. The biggest is the Dubai World Cup, worth £9,022,556.
Do jockeys keep the prize money?
No. The prize goes to the owner, and the jockey and the trainer take a percentage of it, set by the rules of the country the race is run in. The money beside a jockey or a trainer on this site is the prize their winners collected, which is the figure racing itself ranks them on.
How far back does this go?
52,507 runnings across 965 races. Each race page carries every winner it has had, with the jockey, the trainer and what the race was worth that year.
Where to next
Every way into the racing money