Breeders' Cup Classic prize money
The Breeders' Cup Classic is worth $7,000,000 for the 2024 running . That makes it the 6th richest of the 997 races on this site and the 1st 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.
What the Breeders' Cup Classic is
Grade I · miles · Dirt · North America
- Racecourse
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Grade
- Grade I
- Distance
- miles
- Surface
- Dirt
- Race type
- Thoroughbred
- Open to
- 3-year-olds and up
- Direction
- Left-handed
- First run
- 1984
We hold the total fund for the Breeders' Cup Classic 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 2:00.19 in 2025, the Breeders' Cup Classic pays $58,241 for every second of the race, which is 4th of the 611 races in horse racing prize money per second and 1st in the United States.
Every Breeders' Cup Classic winner
42 runnings, 1984 to 2025, newest first
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Forever Young (JPN)4 · 2:00.19 | Ryusei Sakai | Yoshito Yahagi | Susumu Fujita | $7,000,000$7.0m |
| 2024 | Sierra Leone3 · 2:00.78 | Flavien Prat | Chad C. Brown | Brant, Peter M, Magnier. Mrs. John Tabor, Michael Smith, Derrick, Westerberg, and Smith, Brook T. | $7,000,000$7.0m |
| 2023 | White Abarrio4 · 2:02.87 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | C2 Racing Stable LLC and La Milagrosa Stable, LLC | $6,000,000$6.0m |
| 2022 | Flightline4 · 2:00.05 | Flavien Prat | John W. Sadler | Hronis Racing LLC, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds, Inc., Siena Farm LLC & Woodford Racing, LLC | $6,000,000$6.0m |
| 2021 | Knicks Go5 · 1:59.57 | Joel Rosario | Brad H. Cox | Korea Racing Authority | $6,000,000$6.0m |
| 2020 | Authentic3 · 1:59.60 | John R. Velazquez | Bob Baffert | Spendthrift Farm | $6,000,000$6.0m |
| 2019 | Vino Rosso4 · 2:02.80 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd A. Pletcher | Mike Repole | $6,000,000$6.0m |
| 2018 | Accelerate5 · 2:02.93 | Joel Rosario | John W. Sadler | Hronis Racing LLC | $6,000,000$6.0m |
| 2017 | Gun Runner4 · 2:01.29 | Florent Geroux | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds & Three Chimneys Farm | $6,000,000$6.0m |
| 2016 | Arrogate3 · 2:00.11 | Mike E. Smith | Bob Baffert | Juddmonte Farms | $6,000,000$6.0m |
| 2015 | American Pharoah3 · 2:00.07 | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert | Zayat Stables | $5,000,000$5.0m |
| 2014 | Bayern3 · 1:59.88 | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | Kaleem Shah | $5,000,000$5.0m |
| 2013 | Mucho Macho Man5 · 2:00.72 | Gary Stevens | Katherine Ritvo | Reeves Thoroughbred Racing | $5,000,000$5.0m |
| 2012 | Fort Larned4 · 2:00.11 | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Ian Wilkes | Janis R. Whitham | $5,000,000$5.0m |
| 2011 | Drosselmeyer4 · 2:04.27 | Mike E. Smith | William I. Mott | WinStar Farm LLC | $5,000,000$5.0m |
| 2010 | Blame4 · 2:02.28 | Garrett Gomez | Albert Stall Jr. | Claiborne Farm & Adele Dilschneider | $5,000,000$5.0m |
| 2009 | Zenyatta5 · 2:00.32 | Mike E. Smith | John Shirreffs | Jerry & Ann Moss | $5,000,000$5.0m |
| 2008 | Raven's Pass3 · 1:59.27 | Frankie Dettori | John Gosden | Princess Haya/Darley Racing | $5,000,000$5.0m |
| 2007 | Curlin3 · 2:00.59 | Robby Albarado | Steven M. Asmussen | Stonestreet Stables et al. | $5,000,000$5.0m |
| 2006 | Invasor (ARG)4 · 2:02.18 | Fernando Jara | Kiaran McLaughlin | Shadwell Racing | $5,000,000$5.0m |
| 2005 | Saint Liam5 · 2:01.49 | Jerry Bailey | Richard Dutrow Jr. | M/M William K. Warren Jr. | $5,000,000$5.0m |
| 2004 | Ghostzapper4 · 1:59.02 | Javier Castellano | Robert J. Frankel | Stronach Stables | $4,000,000$4.0m |
| 2003 | Pleasantly Perfect5 · 1:59.88 | Alex Solis | Richard Mandella | Diamond A Racing Corp. | $4,000,000$4.0m |
| 2002 | Volponi4 · 2:01.39 | José A. Santos | Philip G. Johnson | Amherst & Spruce Pond Stable | $4,000,000$4.0m |
| 2001 | Tiznow4 · 2:00.62 | Chris McCarron | Jay M. Robbins | Cee's Stables | $4,000,000$4.0m |
| 2000 | Tiznow3 · 2:00.75 | Chris McCarron | Jay M. Robbins | Cooper & Straub-Rubens | $4,000,000$4.0m |
| 1999 | Cat Thief3 · 1:59.52 | Pat Day | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm | $4,000,000$4.0m |
| 1998 | Awesome Again (CAN)4 · 2:02.16 | Pat Day | Patrick B. Byrne | Stronach Stables | $4,000,000$4.0m |
| 1997 | Skip Away4 · 1:59.16 | Mike E. Smith | Sonny Hine | Carolyn Hine | $4,400,000$4.4m |
| 1996 | Alphabet Soup5 · 2:01.00 | Chris McCarron | David Hofmans | Ridder Thoroughbred Stable | $4,000,000$4.0m |
| 1995 | Cigar5 · 1:59.58 | Jerry Bailey | William I. Mott | Allen E. Paulson | $3,000,000$3.0m |
| 1994 | Concern3 · 2:02.41 | Jerry Bailey | Richard W. Small | Robert E. Meyerhoff | $3,000,000$3.0m |
| 1993 | Arcangues (FR)5 · 2:00.83 | Jerry Bailey | André Fabre | Daniel Wildenstein | $3,000,000$3.0m |
| 1992 | A.P. Indy3 · 2:00.20 | Ed Delahoussaye | Neil Drysdale | Tomonori Tsurumaki, William S. Farish III, William S. Kilroy | $3,000,000$3.0m |
| 1991 | Black Tie Affair (IRE)5 · 2:02.95 | Jerry Bailey | Ernie T. Poulos | Jeffrey Sullivan | $3,000,000$3.0m |
| 1990 | Unbridled3 · 2:02.20 | Pat Day | Carl Nafzger | Frances A. Genter | $3,000,000$3.0m |
| 1989 | Sunday Silence3 · 2:00.20 | Chris McCarron | Charlie Whittingham | H-G-W Partners | $3,000,000$3.0m |
| 1988 | Alysheba4 · 2:04.80 | Chris McCarron | Jack Van Berg | Dorothy & Pam Scharbauer | $3,000,000$3.0m |
| 1987 | Ferdinand4 · 2:01.40 | Bill Shoemaker | Charlie Whittingham | Elizabeth A. Keck | $3,000,000$3.0m |
| 1986 | Skywalker4 · 2:00.40 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Michael Whittingham | Oak Cliff Stables | $3,000,000$3.0m |
| 1985 | Proud Truth3 · 2:00.80 | Jorge Velásquez | John M. Veitch | Darby Dan Farm | $3,000,000$3.0m |
| 1984 | Wild Again4 · 2:03.40 | Pat Day | Vincent Timphony | Black Chip Stable (William Allen, Ron Volkman, Terry Beall) | $3,000,000$3.0m |
42 of the 42 runnings name the rider, 42 name the trainer and 42 name the owner, who is the one of the three the prize money actually belongs to. 42 carry the total prize money for that year, converted here the same way the purse above is.
What the Breeders' Cup Classic has paid, season by season
Total prize money, 1984 to 2025
The total prize money went from $3,000,000 in 1984 to $7,000,000 in 2025, 2.3 times more. Every year is converted at today's rate, so the line is the money the race puts up rather than the money the exchange rate did.
Who wins the Breeders' Cup Classic more than once
The fact the table above holds and cannot show
Most wins by a jockey
| Horse | Wins | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Tiznow | 2 | 2000, 2001 |
Races worth about the same
Either side of the Breeders' Cup Classic in the world money order
| # | Race | Country | Prize money | As published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 991 | Bénazet-RennenIffezheim Racecourse | Germany | $22,735 | €20,000 |
| 992 | Grand Prix-AufgaloppKöln-Weidenpesch | Germany | $22,735 | €20,000 |
| 993 | Gold Cup at GreyvilleGreyville Racecourse | South Africa | $22,716 | R400,000 |
| 994 | Burrumbeet CupBurrumbeet racecourse | Australia | $21,111 | AU$30,000 |
| 996 | Takeyoriwake ShoKochi Racecourse | Japan | $16,758 | ¥2,500,000 |
| 997 | Whirl StakesEmpire City Race Track, Yonkers, New York, | United States | $4,000 | $4,000 |
| 1 | The EverestRandwick Racecourse, | Australia | $14,074,074$14.1m | AU$20,000,000 |
| 2 | Dubai World CupMeydan Racecourse | United Arab Emirates | $12,000,000$12.0m | $12,000,000 |
| 3 | Japan CupTokyo Racecourse | Japan | $7,306,488$7.3m | ¥1,090,000,000 |
| 5 | Melbourne CupFlemington Racecourse | Australia | $7,037,037$7.0m | AU$10,000,000 |
| 7 | Dubai Sheema ClassicMeydan Racecourse | United Arab Emirates | $6,000,000$6.0m | $6,000,000 |
| 8 | Dubai TurfMeydan Racecourse | United Arab Emirates | $6,000,000$6.0m | $6,000,000 |
| 9 | Prix de l'Arc de TriompheLongchamp Racecourse | France | $5,683,761$5.7m | €5,000,000 |
| 11 | Hong Kong CupSha Tin Racecourse | Hong Kong | $5,054,000$5.1m | HK$40,000,000 |
| 12 | Breeders' Cup TurfNorth America | United States | $5,000,000$5.0m | $5,000,000 |
| 13 | Kentucky DerbyChurchill Downs | United States | $5,000,000$5.0m | $5,000,000 |
| 15 | Hong Kong MileSha Tin Racecourse | Hong Kong | $4,043,200$4.0m | HK$32,000,000 |
| 16 | Queen Elizabeth II CupSha Tin Racecourse | Hong Kong | $3,790,500$3.8m | HK$30,000,000 |
| 17 | Caulfield CupCaulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia | Australia | $3,518,519$3.5m | AU$5,000,000 |
| 18 | Golden Slipper StakesRosehill Gardens Racecourse | Australia | $3,518,519$3.5m | AU$5,000,000 |
The 20 races closest to the Breeders' Cup Classic 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, 1st of them is this one
| Race | Racecourse | Grade | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Count Fleet Stakes | Aqueduct Racetrack | Ungraded Stakes | $65,000 |
| Lamplighter Stakes | Monmouth Park Racetrack | Non-graded stakes | $60,000 |
| Select Stakes | Monmouth Park Racetrack | Ungraded stakes | $60,000 |
| Whirl Stakes | Empire City Race Track, Yonkers, New York, | $4,000 | |
| Breeders' Cup Turf | North America | Grade I | $5,000,000$5.0m |
| Kentucky Derby | Churchill Downs | Grade I | $5,000,000$5.0m |
| Nashville Derby | Kentucky Downs | Grade II | $3,500,000$3.5m |
| Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes | Gulfstream Park | Grade I | $3,000,000$3.0m |
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 Breeders' Cup Classic prize money?
$7,000,000, for the 2024 running.
Where does the Breeders' Cup Classic rank among the richest races in the world?
6th of 997. 5 races pay more, the nearest of them Bénazet-Rennen. In the United States it is 1st of 196.
Which horse has won the Breeders' Cup Classic most often?
Tiznow, 2 times, in 2000, 2001.
Which jockey has won the Breeders' Cup Classic most often?
Jerry Bailey, with 5 wins between 1991 and 2005.
When was the Breeders' Cup Classic first run?
1984. This page holds 42 runnings, from 1984 to 2025.
How far is the Breeders' Cup Classic?
miles, on dirt, at North America.
Where to next
The rest of the racing money