Iowa Derby prize money
The Iowa Derby is worth $250,000 for the 2018 running . That makes it the 345th richest of the 997 races on this site and the 127th 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 Iowa Derby is
Listed · miles (8.5 furlongs) · Dirt · Prairie Meadows Racetrack
- Racecourse
- Prairie Meadows Racetrack
- Country
- United States
- Grade
- Listed
- Distance
- miles (8.5 furlongs)
- Surface
- Dirt
- Race type
- Thoroughbred - Flat racing
- Open to
- Three-years-old
- Direction
- left-handed
- First run
- 1989
We hold the total fund for the Iowa 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 1:43.17 in 2026, the Iowa Derby pays $2,423 for every second of the race, which is 245th of the 611 races in horse racing prize money per second and 127th in the United States.
Every Iowa Derby winner
33 runnings, 1989 to 2026, newest first
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | J J Grey1:43.17 | Emmanuel Esquivel | Kenneth G. McPeek | Shamrock Stables, MJM Racing & Magdalena Racing |
| 2025 | Magnitude1:42.26 | Ben Curtis | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds |
| 2024 | Henro1:42.72 | Rafael Bejarano | Chris A. Hartman | JD Thoroughbreds LLC & Joey Keith Davis |
| 2023 | How Did He Do That1:43.57 | Richard Eramia | Steven M. Asmussen | J. Kirk & Judy Robison |
| 2022 | Ain’t Life Grand1:42.65 | Elvin Gonzalez | Kelly R. Von Hemel | RPM Thoroughbreds |
| 2021 | Stilleto Boy1:42.64 | José Ortiz | Doug L. Anderson | Steve Moger |
| 2020 | Acre1:42.74 | Martin Garcia | William I. Mott | Claiborne Farm & Adele Dilschneider |
| 2019 | Top Line Growth1:43.07 | Julian Pimentel | Kelly Rubley | The Elkstone Group, LLC |
| 2018 | High North1:44.35 | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Shortleaf Stable, Inc. |
| 2017 | Hence1:42.84 | Mike Smith | Steven M. Asmussen | Calumet Farm |
| 2016 | American Freedom1:42.62 | Rafael Bejarano | Bob Baffert | Mary & Gary West |
| 2015 | Bent on Bourbon1:44.00 | Javier Castellano | Eddie Kenneally | Bourbon Lane Stable |
| 2014 | Jessica's Star1:44.12 | David Mello | Michael Stidham | Mark D. Breen |
| 2013 | Looking Cool1:44.29 | Leandro R. Goncalves | Carl A. Nafzger | Jim Tafel |
| 2012 | Hansen1:42.01 | Ramon Dominguez | Mike Maker | Dr. Hansen & Skychai Racing |
| 2011 | Prayer for Relief1:41.73 | Rafael Bejarano | Bob Baffert | Zayat Stables |
| 2010 | Concord Point1:40.37 | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | Kaleem Shah |
| 2009 | Duke of Mischief1:42.26 | Eibar Coa | David Fawkes | Joann & Alex Lieblong, et al. |
| 2008 | Tiz Now Tiz Then1:41.69 | Miguel Mena | Eoin G. Harty | Zabeel Racing |
| 2007 | Delightful Kiss1:42.05 | Jeffrey Sanchez | Pete D. Anderson | Hobeau Farm |
| 2006 | More Than Regal1:42.74 | Shaun Bridgmohan | Steven M. Asmussen | Vinery Stables |
| 2005 | Shamoan1:43.14 | Jose Valdivia, Jr. | Eoin G. Harty | P. R. & Linda Laird |
| 2004 | Swingforthefences1:43.31 | Shaun Bridgmohan | Richard Violette, Jr. | Klaravich Stables |
| 2003 | Excessivepleasure1:40.82 | Jon Court | Douglas F. O'Neill | Ty & Leroy Leatherman |
| 2002 | Easyfromthegitgo1:42.59 | Donnie Meche | Steven M. Asmussen | James Cassels & Bob Zollars |
| 2001 | Touch Tone1:42.67 | Robby Albarado | Ronny Werner | Tom R. Durant |
| 2000 | Captain Steve1:42.35 | Shane Sellers | Bob Baffert | Michael E. Pegram |
| 1999 | Grits'n Hard Toast1:42.89 | Willie Martinez | Thomas V. Smith | Thomas Victor Smith & R. A. Anderson |
| 1998 | Swear By Dixie1:47.39 | Sidney P. LeJeune Jr | Walter M. Bindner Jr. | Donald G. McClinton |
| 1997 | Crafty One1:43.43 | Sidney P. LeJeune Jr | Kenneth G. McPeek | Roy K. & Joyce Monroe |
| 1996 | Raja's Omega1:43.03 | M. Clifton Berry | Clinton C. Stuart | Jack & Jim Schuyler |
| 1995 | Prince Ariba1:44.60 | Perry S. Whetstone | Larry E. Hunt, Sr. | Hunt Country Stables |
| 1989 | Thelastproudperson1:41.64 | Wilson L. Brown | David Wilder Essman | Locke Neal |
33 of the 33 runnings name the rider, 33 name the trainer and 33 name the owner, who is the one of the three the prize money actually belongs to.
Who wins the Iowa Derby more than once
The fact the table above holds and cannot show
Most wins by a trainer
Races worth about the same
Either side of the Iowa Derby in the world money order
| # | Race | Country | Prize money | As published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 335 | Gordon StakesGoodwood Racecourse | Great Britain | $266,000 | £200,000 |
| 336 | New Zealand CupRiccarton Park Racecourse | New Zealand | $263,879 | NZ$450,000 |
| 337 | Bahrain TrophyJuly Course | Great Britain | $261,664 | £196,740 |
| 338 | Dante StakesYork Racecourse | Great Britain | $255,626 | £192,200 |
| 339 | Prix Ferdinand DufaureAuteuil Racecourse | France | $250,085 | €220,000 |
| 340 | Albany StakesSaratoga Race Course | United States | $250,000 | $250,000 |
| 341 | Calder DerbyCalder Race Course | United States | $250,000 | $250,000 |
| 342 | Del Mar DerbyDel Mar Racetrack | United States | $250,000 | $250,000 |
| 343 | Dubai City of GoldNad Al Sheba Racecourse | United Arab Emirates | $250,000 | $250,000 |
| 344 | Illinois DerbyHawthorne Race Course | United States | $250,000 | $250,000 |
| 346 | Kent StakesDelaware Park Racetrack | United States | $250,000 | $250,000 |
| 347 | Lecomte StakesFair Grounds Race Course | United States | $250,000 | $250,000 |
| 349 | Sam F. Davis StakesTampa Bay Downs | United States | $250,000 | $250,000 |
| 350 | Smarty Jones Stakes (Oaklawn Park)Oaklawn Park Race Track | United States | $250,000 | $250,000 |
| 351 | Super DerbyLouisiana Downs | United States | $250,000 | $250,000 |
| 352 | Withers StakesAqueduct Racetrack | United States | $250,000 | $250,000 |
| 353 | Adelaide CupMorphettville Racecourse, South Australia | Australia | $246,296 | AU$350,000 |
| 354 | Australia StakesMoonee Valley Racecourse | Australia | $246,296 | AU$350,000 |
| 355 | Blue Diamond Prelude C&GCaulfield Racecourse, Sandown Racecourse | Australia | $246,296 | AU$350,000 |
| 356 | Blue Diamond Prelude FilliesCaulfield Racecourse, Sandown Racecourse | Australia | $246,296 | AU$350,000 |
The 20 races closest to the Iowa 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, 127th of them is this one
| Race | Racecourse | Grade | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany Stakes | Saratoga Race Course | Restricted | $250,000 |
| Calder Derby | Calder Race Course | Grade III | $250,000 |
| Del Mar Derby | Del Mar Racetrack | Grade II | $250,000 |
| Illinois Derby | Hawthorne Race Course | Grade III | $250,000 |
| Kent Stakes | Delaware Park Racetrack | Listed | $250,000 |
| Lecomte Stakes | Fair Grounds Race Course | Grade III | $250,000 |
| Sam F. Davis Stakes | Tampa Bay Downs | Listed | $250,000 |
| Smarty Jones Stakes (Oaklawn Park) | Oaklawn Park Race Track | Listed | $250,000 |
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 Iowa Derby prize money?
$250,000, for the 2018 running.
Where does the Iowa Derby rank among the richest races in the world?
345th of 997. 344 races pay more, the nearest of them Gordon Stakes. In the United States it is 127th of 196.
Which jockey has won the Iowa Derby most often?
Rafael Bejarano, with 3 wins between 2011 and 2024.
When was the Iowa Derby first run?
1989. This page holds 33 runnings, from 1989 to 2026.
How far is the Iowa Derby?
miles (8.5 furlongs), on dirt, at Prairie Meadows Racetrack.
Where to next
The rest of the racing money