Horse Racing Tips
Epsom Derby 2026: How Much Prize Money Will Connections Earn?
William Hill News look at the prize money on offer at Epsom Downs for The Derby this year, but how much will winning connections receive for top prize?
The Epsom Derby will be run on the first Saturday of June, as it is every year. This year, the event will be held on Saturday 6th of June at Epsom Downs Racecourse.
The Derby is the richest race in Britain and the most prestigious of the five UK Classics. Run over a mile and a half, it is a unique test for a horse, requiring a combination of speed, stamina and balance to negotiate the long final turn and the left-hand camber of the track.
It is often assumed that it is a Classic for colts, but the Derby is open to both sexes and is occasionally fillies run in it.
How Much Prize Money On Offer At The Derby?
This year’s Derby will be worth £2 million as part of a cash injection by the Jockey Club to reinvigorate Britain’s premier Classic, with the aim of attracting a crowds of 100,000 for years to come.
The race has seen the its total prize fun increase by £500,000, with extended pay-outs down to tenth place.
Epsom Derby Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st Place: £1,000,000
- 2nd Place: £378,000
- 3rd Place: £189,000
- 4th Place: £94,200
- 5th Place: £47,200
- 6th Place: £23,800
- 7th Place: £12,000
- 8th Place: £6,000
- 9th Place: £6,000
- 10th Place: £6,000
How Does The Derby Prize Money Get Split?
- Owners: Receive approximately 75% to 85% of the winnings.
- Trainers & Stable Staff: Receive around 10%.
- Jockeys: Typically earn around 7.5% to 8.5% of the first-place prize money.
Why was the Derby prize money increased?
The announcement last December came after a six-month review by Epsom Racecourse and The Jockey Club, prompted by a notable fall in attendance at the 2025 Derby meeting.
The loss of a significant number of attendees raised concerns about the long-term appeal of Britain’s most famous Classic, so a plan of action was set in motion.
Industry reaction to the new Epsom Derby prize money structure
Leading trainers, such as Aidan O’Brien Andrew Balding, have come out in favour of the prize money boost. They believe the £1 million going to the winners is a positive statement of intent to keep the Derby at the pinnacle of global flat racing and ideally to attract further top level international investment.
With the Jockey Club matching the purse of Ascot’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the Derby will re-establish itself among the premier and most valuable Group 1 races in the UK. There should bever nave been a situation were other Group 1’s were outtrumping the Derby in terms of prize money.
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*
