ARLINGTON MILLION · UNITED STATES
Arlington Million prize money
Arlington Million is worth $1,000,000 . That makes it the 77th richest of the 997 races on this site and the 23rd 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 $1,000,000
WORLD RANK 77th
RUNNINGS HELD 43
FIRST RUN 1981
What the Arlington Million is
Grade 1 · miles · Turf · Colonial Downs
- Racecourse
- Colonial Downs
- Country
- United States
- Grade
- Grade 1
- Distance
- miles
- Surface
- Turf
- Race type
- Thoroughbred
- Open to
- 3-year-olds & Up, Thoroughbreds
- Direction
- Left-handed
- First run
- 1981
We hold the total fund for Arlington Million 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 2:00.80 in 2026, Arlington Million pays $8,278 for every second of the race, which is 88th of the 611 races in horse racing prize money per second and 45th in the United States.
Every Arlington Million winner
43 runnings, 1981 to 2026, newest first
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Burnham Square4 · 2:00.80 | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Ian Wilkes | Whitham Thoroughbreds, LLC |
| 2025 | Fort Washington6 · 1:59.58 | Junior Alvarado | Claude R. McGaughey III | Magic Cap Stables |
| 2024 | Nations Pride (IRE)5 · 2:01.96 | William Buick | Charlie Appleby | Godolphin |
| 2023 | Set Piece (GB)7 · 1:58.19 | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Juddmonte Farms |
| 2022 | Santin4 · 1:46.88 | Tyler Gaffalione | Brendan P. Walsh | Godolphin |
| 2021 | Two Emmys5 · 2:03.34 | James Graham | Hugh Robertson | Wolfe Racing and Hugh Robertson |
| 2019 | Bricks and Mortar4 · 1:59.44 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | Klaravich Stables & William H. Lawrence |
| 2018 | Robert Bruce (CHI)4 · 2:02.29 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | Convento Viejo LLC |
| 2017 | Beach Patrol4 · 2:02.39 | Joel Rosario | Chad C. Brown | James Covello, Sheep Pond Partners & Head Of Plains Partners |
| 2016 | Mondialiste6 · 2:01.87 | Daniel Tudhope | David O'Meara | Geoff and Sandra Turnbull |
| 2015 | The Pizza Man6 · 2:02.20 | Florent Geroux | Roger A. Brueggemann | Midwest Thoroughbreds |
| 2014 | Hardest Core4 · 2:01.51 | Eriluis Vaz | Edward Graham | Andrew Bentley Stables |
| 2013 | Real Solution4 · 2:00.99 | Alan Garcia | Chad C. Brown | Kenneth L. Ramsey and Sarah K. Ramsey |
| 2012 | Little Mike5 · 2:02.44 | Ramon Dominguez | Dale Romans | Priscilla Vaccarezza |
| 2011 | Cape Blanco4 · 2:05.39 | Jamie Spencer | Aidan O'Brien | Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Mrs F Hay |
| 2010 | Debussy4 · 2:03.01 | William Buick | John Gosden | Princess Haya of Jordan |
| 2009 | Gio Ponti4 · 2:04.19 | Ramon Dominguez | Christophe Clement | Castleton Lyons |
| 2008 | Spirit One4 · 2:02.17 | Ioritz Mendizabal | Philip Demercastel | Kamel Chehboub |
| 2007 | Jambalaya5 · 2:04.76 | Robby Albarado | Catherine Day Phillips | Todd Phillips & Catherine Day Phillips |
| 2006 | The Tin Man8 · 2:01.35 | Victor Espinoza | Richard Mandella | Ralph and Aury Todd |
| 2005 | Powerscourt5 · 2:03.38 | Kieren Fallon | Aidan O'Brien | Sue Magnier |
| 2004 | Kicken Kris4 · 2:00.08 | Kent Desormeaux | Michael R. Matz | Brushwood Stable |
| 2003 | Sulamani4 · 2:02.29 | David R. Flores | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin |
| 2002 | Beat Hollow5 · 2:02.94 | Jerry Bailey | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms |
| 2001 | Silvano5 · 2:02.64 | Andreas Suborics | Andreas Wöhler | Stiftung Gestüt Fährhof |
| 2000 | Chester House5 · 2:01.37 | Jerry Bailey | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms |
| 1997 | Marlin4 · 2:02.54 | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Michael Tabor |
| 1996 | Mecke4 · 2:00.49 | Robbie Davis | Emanuel Tortora | James Lewis Jr. |
| 1995 | Awad5 · 1:58.69 | Eddie Maple | David G. Donk | Ryehill Farm |
| 1994 | Paradise Creek5 · 1:59.78 | Pat Day | William I. Mott | Masayuki Nishiyama |
| 1993 | Star of Cozzene5 · 2:07.50 | José A. Santos | Mark Hennig | Team Valor Stable |
| 1992 | Dear Doctor5 · 1:59.84 | Cash Asmussen | John Hammond | Henri Chalhoub |
| 1991 | Tight Spot4 · 1:59.55 | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Ron McAnally | F. Anderson, V.J. Winchell & F. Whitman |
| 1990 | Golden Pheasant4 · 1:59.60 | Gary Stevens | Charlie Whittingham | Summa Stable & Wayne Gretzky |
| 1989 | Steinlen6 · 2:03.60 | José A. Santos | D. Wayne Lukas | Wildenstein Stable |
| 1988 | Mill Native4 · 2:00.00 | Cash Asmussen | André Fabre | C. N. Ray |
| 1987 | Manila4 · 2:02.40 | Angel Cordero Jr. | LeRoy Jolley | Bradley M. Shannon |
| 1986 | Estrapade6 · 2:00.80 | Fernando Toro | Charlie Whittingham | Allen E. Paulson |
| 1985 | Teleprompter5 · 2:03.40 | Tony Ives | Bill Watts | Edward Stanley, 18th Earl of Derby |
| 1984 | John Henry9 · 2:01.40 | Chris McCarron | Ron McAnally | Dotsam Stable |
| 1983 | Tolomeo3 · 2:04.40 | Pat Eddery | Luca Cumani | Carlo d'Alessio |
| 1982 | Perrault5 · 1:58.80 | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Charlie Whittingham | Serge Fradkoff & Baron Thierry van Zuylen |
| 1981 | John Henry6 · 2:07.60 | Willie Shoemaker | Ron McAnally | Dotsam Stable |
43 of the 43 runnings name the rider, 43 name the trainer and 43 name the owner, who is the one of the three the prize money actually belongs to.
Who wins the Arlington Million more than once
The fact the table above holds and cannot show
John Henry has won it 2 times, which is more than any other horse.
1 horse has won it more than once across 43 runnings.
Most wins by a jockey
| Horse | Wins | Years |
|---|---|---|
| John Henry | 2 | 1981, 1984 |
Races worth about the same
Either side of Arlington Million in the world money order
| # | Race | Country | Prize money | As published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 67 | Japan Breeding Farms' Cup ClassicChanges yearly | Japan | $1,139,544 | ¥170,000,000 |
| 68 | Tokyo DerbyOhi Racecourse | Japan | $1,139,544 | ¥170,000,000 |
| 69 | Arabian World CupLongchamp Racecourse | France | $1,136,752 | €1,000,000 |
| 70 | Irish DerbyCurragh Racecourse | Ireland | $1,136,752 | €1,000,000 |
| 71 | Prix de DianeChantilly Racecourse | France | $1,136,752 | €1,000,000 |
| 72 | Prix Jacques Le MaroisDeauville Racecourse | France | $1,136,752 | €1,000,000 |
| 73 | All Aged StakesRandwick Racecourse | Australia | $1,055,556 | AU$1,500,000 |
| 74 | The Gold RushAscot Racecourse | Australia | $1,055,556 | AU$1,500,000 |
| 75 | Al Quoz SprintMeydan Racecourse | United Arab Emirates | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| 76 | American Turf StakesChurchill Downs | United States | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| 78 | Breeders' Cup Dirt MileUnited States | United States | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| 79 | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare SprintUnited States | United States | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| 80 | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies TurfUnited States | United States | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| 81 | Breeders' Cup Juvenile TurfUnited States, United States | United States | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| 82 | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf SprintUnited States | United States | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| 83 | Breeders' Cup Turf SprintUnited States | United States | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| 84 | Churchill Downs StakesChurchill Downs | United States | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| 85 | Cotillion HandicapParx Racing and Casino | United States | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| 86 | Derby City Distaff StakesChurchill Downs | United States | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| 87 | Florida DerbyGulfstream Park | United States | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
The 20 races closest to Arlington Million 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, 23rd of them is this one
| Race | Racecourse | Grade | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Derby | Oaklawn Park Race Track, | Grade I | $1,250,000 |
| Blue Grass Stakes | Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky, USA | Grade I | $1,250,000 |
| Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes | Keeneland Race Course | Grade I | $1,250,000 |
| American Turf Stakes | Churchill Downs | Grade I | $1,000,000 |
| Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile | United States | Grade I | $1,000,000 |
| Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint | United States | Grade I | $1,000,000 |
| Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | United States | Grade I | $1,000,000 |
| Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | United States, United States | Grade I | $1,000,000 |
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 Arlington Million prize money?
$1,000,000.
Where does the Arlington Million rank among the richest races in the world?
77th of 997. 76 races pay more, the nearest of them Japan Breeding Farms' Cup Classic. In the United States it is 23rd of 196.
Which horse has won the Arlington Million most often?
John Henry, 2 times, in 1981, 1984.
Which jockey has won the Arlington Million most often?
William Buick, with 2 wins between 2010 and 2024.
When was the Arlington Million first run?
1981. This page holds 43 runnings, from 1981 to 2026.
How far is the Arlington Million?
miles, on turf, at Colonial Downs.
Where to next
The rest of the racing money