AMERICAN DERBY · UNITED STATES
American Derby prize money
The American Derby is worth $100,000 . That makes it the 747th richest of the 997 races on this site and the 166th richest in the United States.
Every figure here is the money the race announces, in the currency it announces it in. The currency control at the top swaps the whole page.
TOTAL PRIZE MONEY $100,000
WORLD RANK 747th
RUNNINGS HELD 112
FIRST RUN 1884
What the American Derby is
Listed · 1 1/16 miles · Turf · Churchill Downs
- Racecourse
- Churchill Downs
- Country
- United States
- Grade
- Listed
- Distance
- 1 1/16 miles
- Surface
- Turf
- Race type
- Thoroughbred, Flat racing
- Open to
- Three-year-olds
- Direction
- Left-handed
- First run
- 1884
We hold the total fund for the American Derby and no separate winner's cheque. What the winner takes is a rule the racecourse sets rather than a national one, and it varies race by race.
Run in 1:44.29 in 2025, the American Derby pays $959 for every second of the race, which is 417th of the 611 races in horse racing prize money per second and 185th in the United States.
Every American Derby winner
112 runnings, 1884 to 2025, newest first
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Minaret Station1:44.29 | Cristian A. Torres | William Walden | OXO Equine LLC |
| 2024 | Brilliant Berti1:41.92 | Brian J. Hernandez Jr. | Cherie DeVaux | Klein Racing (Richard Klein) |
| 2023 | Wadsworth1:40.96 | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Godolphin, LLC |
| 2022 | Rattle N Roll1:43.27 | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Kenneth G. McPeek | Lucky Seven Stable |
| 2021 | Tango Tango Tango1:43.58 | Declan Cannon | Jack Sisterson | Calumet Farm |
| 2019 | Faraway Kitten1:41.72 | Adam Beschizza | Michael Maker | Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey |
| 2018 | Real Story1:47.61 | Joe Bravo | Ignacio Correas, VI | Jeffery S. Amling, and Merriebelle Stables, LLC |
| 2017 | Sonic Boom1:49.90 | Julien Leparoux | Ian Wilkes | Lothenbach Stables, Inc. (Bob Lothenbach) |
| 2016 | One Mean Man1:48.86 | Jose Lezcano | Bernard S. Flint | L. T. B., Inc. & Hillerich Racing, Inc. |
| 2015 | World Approval1:52.92 | Jose Lezcano | Mark Casse | Live Oak Plantation Stable (Charlotte Weber) |
| 2014 | Divine Oath1:56.50 | Florent Geroux | Todd Pletcher | Let's Go Stable (Kevin Scatuorchio & Bryan Sullivan) |
| 2013 | Infinite Magic1:55.41 | Channing Hill | Richard C. Mettee | Team Valor International |
| 2012 | Cozzetti1:57.42 | Shaun Bridgmohan | Dale L. Romans | Albaugh Family Stable |
| 2011 | Willcox Inn1:54.56 | Robby Albarado | Michael Stidham | All In Stable |
| 2010 | Workin For Hops1:55.47 | Francisco Torres | Michael Stidham | Estorance, LLC |
| 2009 | Reb1:56.09 | Julien Leparoux | George Arnold II | Ashbrook Farm |
| 2008 | Tizdejavu1:59.88 | René Douglas | Greg Fox | Cooper/Ziebarth |
| 2007 | Lattice1:54.85 | Robby Albarado | William I. Mott | Claiborne Farm |
| 2006 | Union Avenue1:57.20 | Larry Melancon | William I. Mott | WinStar Farm |
| 2005 | Gun Salute1:55.31 | Cornelio Velásquez | William I. Mott | Brant M. Laue |
| 2004 | Simple Exchange1:54.93 | Pat Smullen | Dermot K. Weld | Moyglare Stud |
| 2003 | Evolving Tactics1:59.04 | Pat Smullen | Dermot K. Weld | Moyglare Stud |
| 2002 | Mananan McLir1:57.11 | René Douglas | Wallace Dollase | M. Jarvis/G. Margolis et al. |
| 2001 | Fan Club's Mister2:03.27 | Randy Meier | Rickey B. Harris | P. Miessler & C. Raber |
| 2000 | Pine Dance1:55.46 | Eddie Ahern | Dermot K. Weld | Highland Farms et al. |
| 1997 | Honor Glide1:55.94 | Garrett Gomez | Jim Day | Robert Schaedle III |
| 1996 | Jaunatxo ‡1:55.82 | Juvenal Diaz | Louie J. Roussel III | Louie J. Roussel III |
| 1995 | Gold And Steel1:55.02 | Aaron Gryder | Jean-Claude Rouget | Gary A. Tanaka |
| 1994 | Overbury ††1:55.29 | Shane Sellers | David Loder | Sheikh Mohammed |
| 1994 | Vaudeville ††1:55.29 | Aldaberto Lopez | Fordell Fierce | Ron Crockett |
| 1993 | Explosive Red1:59.92 | Shane Sellers | Daniel J. Vella | Frank Stronach |
| 1992 | The Name's Jimmy1:59.41 | Pat Day | Charles R. Stutts | Mount Joy Stables, Inc. (Brian & Jan Burns) |
| 1991 | Olympio2:00.99 | Eddie Delahoussaye | Ron McAnally | Verne Winchell |
| 1990 | Real Cash2:02.00 | Pat Valenzuela | D. Wayne Lukas | Lukas & Overbrook |
| 1989 | Awe Inspiring2:02.40 | Craig Perret | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Mills Phipps |
| 1987 | Fortunate Moment2:03.80 | Earlie Fires | Harvey L. Vanier | Jerry Pinkley |
| 1985 | Creme Fraiche2:01.60 | Eddie Maple | Woody Stephens | Brushwood Stable |
| 1984 | At The Threshold †2:04.00 | Pat Day | Lynn S. Whiting | W. Cal Partee |
| 1984 | High Alexander †2:04.00 | Gerland Gallitano | Jim Levtich | J. M. Levitch Sr. |
| 1983 | Play Fellow2:04.00 | Pat Day | Harvey L. Vanier | Vanier, Lauer, Victor |
| 1982 | Wolfie's Rascal2:05.60 | Ruben Hernandez | Howard M. Tesher | Sidney L. Port et al. |
| 1981 | Pocket Zipper2:03.80 | Ray Sibille | Richard Hazelton | Mr. & Mrs. Robert F. Bensinger |
| 1980 | Hurry Up Blue2:04.40 | Gerland Gallitano | Joseph M. Bollero | Russell L. Reineman |
| 1979 | Smarten2:05.20 | Sam Maple | Woody Stephens | Ryehill Farm |
| 1978 | Nasty And Bold2:03.40 | Jean-Luc Samyn | Philip G. Johnson | Meadowhill Farm |
| 1977 | Silver Series2:02.40 | Larry Snyder | Oscar Dishman Jr. | Archie R. Donaldson |
| 1976 | Fifth Marine1:49.20 | Ron Turcotte | Sidney Watters Jr. | Pamela H. Firman |
| 1975 | Honey Mark1:44.40 | Garth Patterson | Larry Robideaux Jr. | Mr. & Mrs. F. Roberts |
| 1974 | Determined King1:47.80 | Daryl Montoya | Eugene Jacobs | Herbert A. Allen Sr. |
| 1973 | Bemo1:49.60 | William Passmore | John W. Murphy | Hickory Tree Stable |
| 1972 | Dubassoff1:50.00 | Jacinto Vásquez | Thomas J. Kelly | John M. Schiff |
| 1971 | Bold Reason1:50.00 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Angel Penna Sr. | William A. Levin |
| 1970 | The Pruner1:47.00 | Braulio Baeza | Edward A. Neloy | Ogden Phipps |
| 1969 | Fast Hilarious1:48.00 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Joseph M. Bollero | Dorothy C. Rigney |
| 1968 | Forward Pass1:48.00 | Ismael Valenzuela | Henry Forrest | Calumet Farm |
| 1967 | Damascus1:46.80 | Bill Shoemaker | Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. | Edith W. Bancroft |
| 1966 | Buckpasser1:47.00 | Braulio Baeza | Edward A. Neloy | Ogden Phipps |
| 1965 | Tom Rolfe2:00.60 | Bill Shoemaker | Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. | Powhatan Stables |
| 1964 | Roman Brother2:01.40 | Fernando Alvarez | Burley Parke | Harbor View Farm |
| 1963 | Candy Spots2:02.00 | Bill Shoemaker | Mesh Tenney | Rex C. Ellsworth |
| 1962 | Black Sheep2:01.00 | Johnny Longden | Charlie Whittingham | C. R. Mac Stable |
| 1961 | Beau Prince1:51.00 | Steve Brooks | Horace A. Jones | Calumet Farm |
| 1960 | T. V. Lark1:47.20 | Johnny Sellers | Paul K. Parker | Preston W. Madden |
| 1959 | Dunce1:49.00 | Lois C. Cook | Moody Jolley | Claiborne Farm |
| 1958 | Nadir1:51.00 | Manuel Ycaza | Moody Jolley | Claiborne Farm |
| 1957 | Round Table1:55.00 | Bill Shoemaker | William Molter | Kerr Stable |
| 1956 | Swoon's Son1:59.00 | Eddie Arcaro | Lex Wilson | E. Gay Drake |
| 1955 | Swaps1:54.60 | Bill Shoemaker | Mesh Tenney | Rex C. Ellsworth |
| 1954 | Errard King1:49.00 | Sam Boulmetis Sr. | Thomas J. Barry | Joseph Gavegnano |
| 1953 | Native Dancer1:48.40 | Eddie Arcaro | William C. Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II |
| 1952 | Mark-Ye-Well1:49.00 | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm |
| 1951 | Hall of Fame2:01.00 | Ted Atkinson | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable |
| 1950 | Hill Prince2:01.20 | Eddie Arcaro | Casey Hayes | Christopher Chenery |
| 1949 | Ponder2:00.00 | Steve Brooks | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm |
| 1948 | Citation2:01.60 | Eddie Arcaro | Horace A. Jones | Calumet Farm |
| 1947 | Fervent2:00.00 | Douglas Dodson | Horace A. Jones | Calumet Farm |
| 1946 | Eternal Reward2:02.00 | R. Campbell | Chester J. Hall | Augustus & Nahm |
| 1945 | Fighting Step2:02.00 | G. South | Charles C. Norman | Murlogg Farm |
| 1944 | By Jimminy2:03.00 | George Woolf | James W. Smith | Alfred P. Parker |
| 1943 | Askmenow2:07.00 | George Woolf | Kenneth Osborne | Hal Price Headley |
| 1942 | Alsab2:06.60 | George Woolf | Sarge Swenke | Albert Sabath |
| 1941 | Whirlaway2:04.00 | Alfred Robertson | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm |
| 1940 | Mioland2:05.00 | John H. Adams | Tom Smith | Charles S. Howard |
| 1937 | Dawn Play2:05.00 | Lester Balaski | Max Hirsch | King Ranch |
| 1935 | Black Helen2:01.40 | Don Meade | Bill Hurley | Edward R. Bradley |
| 1934 | Cavalcade2:04.00 | Mack Garner | Robert A. Smith | Brookmeade Stable |
| 1933 | Mr. Khayyam2:04.00 | Pete Walls | Matthew Peter Brady | Catawba Farm Stable (Madelaine H. Austin) |
| 1932 | Gusto2:10.00 | Silvio Coucci | Max Hirsch | Morton L. Schwartz |
| 1931 | Mate2:04.00 | George Ellis | James W. Healy | Albert C. Bostwick Jr. |
| 1930 | Reveille Boy2:04.00 | Willie Fronk | John L. Paul | John A. Best |
| 1929 | Windy City2:10.00 | Lawrence McDermott | Jake Lowenstein | Fred M. Grabner |
| 1928 | Toro2:05.00 | Eddie Ambrose | John F. Schorr | Edward Beale McLean |
| 1927 | Hydromel2:29.00 | Lawrence McDermott | Daniel E. Stewart | Johnson N. Camden Jr. |
| 1926 | Boot to Boot2:30.00 | Albert Johnson | Bill Hurley | Idle Hour Stock Farm |
| 1916 | Dodge2:04.00 | Frank Murphy | John S. Ward | Weber & Ward |
| 1904 | Highball2:33.00 | Grover Fuller | John W. May | Walter M. Scheftel |
| 1903 | The Picket2:33.00 | Albert B. Helgesen | Carroll B. Reid | Middleton & Jungbluth |
| 1902 | Wyeth2:40.00 | Lucien Lyne | Enoch Wishard | John A. Drake |
| 1901 | Robert Waddell2:33.00 | John Bullman | Theodore F. Coles | Mrs. R. Bradley |
| 1900 | Sidney Lucas2:40.25 | John Bullman | R. S. Thompson | Thompson Bros. |
| 1898 | Pink Coat2:42.00 | W. Martin | Patrick Dunne | Woodford & Buckner |
| 1894 | Rey el Santa Anita2:36.00 | Eugene Van Kuren | Henry McDaniel | Lucky Baldwin |
| 1893 | Boundless2:36.00 | Edward H. Garrison | William McDaniel | John E. Cushing & John W. Orth |
| 1892 | Carlsbad3:04.25 | Robert "Tiny" Williams | C. Porter | Robert A. Swigert |
| 1891 | Strathmeath2:49.25 | George Covington | Green B. Morris | Green B. Morris |
| 1890 | Uncle Bob2:55.75 | Thomas Kiley | B. J. Johnson | Chicago Stable |
| 1889 | Spokane2:41.25 | Thomas Kiley | John Rodegap | Noah Armstrong |
| 1888 | Emperor of Norfolk2:40.50 | Isaac Burns Murphy | Robert W. Thomas | Lucky Baldwin |
| 1887 | C. H. Todd2:36.50 | Anthony Hamilton | James B. A. Haggin | James B. A. Haggin |
| 1886 | Silver Cloud2:37.25 | Isaac Burns Murphy | Albert Cooper | Lucky Baldwin |
| 1885 | Volante2:49.50 | Isaac Burns Murphy | Albert Cooper | Lucky Baldwin |
| 1884 | Modesty2:42.00 | Isaac Burns Murphy | John W. Rogers | Edward Corrigan |
112 of the 112 runnings name the rider, 112 name the trainer and 112 name the owner, who is the one of the three the prize money actually belongs to.
Who wins the American Derby more than once
The fact the table above holds and cannot show
No horse has won the American Derby twice in the 112 runnings on this page.
Most wins by a trainer
Races worth about the same
Either side of the American Derby in the world money order
| # | Race | Country | Prize money | As published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 736 | Lord Reims StakesMorphettville Racecourse, South Australia | Australia | $105,556 | AU$150,000 |
| 737 | Mystic Journey StakesTattersall's Park | Australia | $105,556 | AU$150,000 |
| 738 | Proud Miss StakesMorphettville Racecourse, South Australia | Australia | $105,556 | AU$150,000 |
| 739 | R. N. Irwin StakesMorphettville Racecourse, South Australia | Australia | $105,556 | AU$150,000 |
| 740 | Sires' Produce Stakes (SAJC)Morphettville Racecourse, South Australia | Australia | $105,556 | AU$150,000 |
| 742 | Vamos StakesLaunceston Racecourse | Australia | $105,556 | AU$150,000 |
| 743 | Hawke's Bay GuineasHastings Racecourse | New Zealand | $102,619 | NZ$175,000 |
| 744 | Abu Dhabi ChampionshipAbu Dhabi Racecourse | United Arab Emirates | $101,939 | AED 380,000 |
| 745 | Premio TudiniCapannelle Racecourse | Italy | $100,034 | €88,000 |
| 746 | Affirmed Stakes (LATC)Santa Anita Park | United States | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| 748 | Arlington ClassicArlington Park | United States | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| 749 | Baldwin StakesSanta Anita Park | United States | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| 750 | Barbaro Stakes at Delaware ParkDelaware Park Racetrack | United States | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| 751 | Cinema StakesSanta Anita Park | United States | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| 752 | El Camino Real DerbyGolden Gate Fields | United States | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| 753 | Forerunner StakesKeeneland Race Course | United States | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| 754 | Fred "Cappy" Capossela StakesAqueduct Racetrack | United States | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| 755 | James W. Murphy StakesPimlico Race Course, | United States | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| 756 | Jefferson Cup StakesChurchill Downs | United States | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| 757 | Jersey DerbyMonmouth Park | United States | $100,000 | $100,000 |
The 20 races closest to the American Derby in what they pay, above and below it. Follow the ranking all the way up on the richest races in the world.
The rest of the money in the United States
196 races, 166th of them is this one
| Race | Racecourse | Grade | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federico Tesio Stakes | Laurel Park, | Ungraded Stakes | $125,000 |
| Mike Lee Stakes | Saratoga Race Course | Restricted | $125,000 |
| Northern Dancer Stakes | Churchill Downs | Grade III | $125,000 |
| Affirmed Stakes (LATC) | Santa Anita Park | Listed | $100,000 |
| Arlington Classic | Arlington Park | Grade III | $100,000 |
| Baldwin Stakes | Santa Anita Park | Grade III | $100,000 |
| Barbaro Stakes at Delaware Park | Delaware Park Racetrack | Ungraded stakes | $100,000 |
| Cinema Stakes | Santa Anita Park | Ungraded | $100,000 |
Every race in the United States we hold a purse for is on the United States prize money list.
Frequently asked questions
What is the total American Derby prize money?
$100,000.
Where does the American Derby rank among the richest races in the world?
747th of 997. 746 races pay more, the nearest of them Lord Reims Stakes. In the United States it is 166th of 196.
Which jockey has won the American Derby most often?
Bill Shoemaker, with 5 wins between 1955 and 1967.
When was the American Derby first run?
1884. This page holds 112 runnings, from 1884 to 2025.
How far is the American Derby?
1 1/16 miles, on turf, at Churchill Downs.
Where to next
The rest of the racing money