Horse Racing Tips

Epsom Oaks 2026: How Much Prize Money Will Connections Earn?

12 hours ago

| BY Steve Mullington

William Hill News look at the prize money on offer at Epsom Downs for The Oaks this year, but how much will winning connections receive for top prize?

The Epsom Oaks is the number one middle-distance Classic contest for three-year-old fillies over a mile and a half and is widely regarded as the fillies’ equivalent of the Derby.

The qualifying criteria for the Oaks is that only fillies aged three years old can run. They are all allocated nine stone in weight. This year, the event will be held on Friday 5th of June at Epsom Downs Racecourse and you can check out all our latest ante-post betting market.

How Much Prize Money On Offer At The Oaks?

While the Oaks has received a significant raise from previous years, its prize fund is part of a larger £1.4 million total increase across the entire Derby Festival.

The flagship race, the Derby, features a record-high £2 million purse, while the Coronation Cup has risen to £1 million.

Oaks Prize Money Breakdown

1st Place: £354,437.50
2nd Place: £134,375.00
3rd Place: £67,250.00
4th Place: £33,500.00
5th Place: £16,812.50
6th Place: £8,437.50

How does the Oaks prize money get split?

Here is how the first-place prize of £354,437.50 is typically divided:

Owners: 75.3% (£266,891)
Trainer: 11% (£38,988)
Jockey: 8.5% (£30,127)
Stable Staff: 5.2% (£18,431)

Industry reaction to the new Epsom Oaks prize money structure

Because Friday’s Oaks received a much smaller prize money increase, some of the racing fraternity feel the premier fillies’ Classic is being slightly overshadowed by Saturday’s super enhanced card.

However, Epsom’s officials still maintain that the Oaks remains the undisputed top fillies’ feature on the Friday afternoon schedule.

How the Oaks prize money now compares

At £2 million, the Derby bow sits at the top of UK racing alongside:

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Ascot) – £2 million.
The Derby (Epsom) – £2 million.

By comparison:

Cheltenham Gold Cup currently offers prize money in the region of £625,000.
The Grand National has a total prize fund of £1 million.
The Oaks remains below the Derby but continues to hold its Classic status.

Epsom Oaks Previous Winners:

2025 – Minnie Hauk, 9/2, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Ryan Moore.
2024 – Ezeliya, 13/2, Trainer: Dermot Weld, Jockey: Chris Hayes.
2023 – Soul Sister, 11/4, Trainer: John & Thady Gosden, Jockey: Frankie Dettori.
2022 – Tuesday, 13/2, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Ryan Moore.
2021 – Snowfall, 11/2, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Frankie Dettori.
2020 – Love, 11/10, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Ryan Moore.
2019 – Anapurna, 8/1, Trainer: John Gosden, Jockey: Frankie Dettori.
2018 – Forever Together, 7/1, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Donnacha O’Brien.
2017 – Enable, 6/1, Trainer: John Gosden, Jockey: Frankie Dettori.
2016 – Minding, 10/11, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Ryan Moore.
2015 – Qualify, 50/1, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Colm O’Donoghue.
2014 – Taghrooda, 5/1, Trainer: John Gosden, Jockey: Paul Hanagan.
2013 – Talent, 20/1, Trainer: Ralph Beckett, Jockey: Richard Hughes.
2012 – Was, 20/1, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Seamie Heffernan.
2011 – Dancing Rain, 20/1, Trainer: William Haggas, Jockey: Johnny Murtagh.
2010 – Snow Fairy, 9/1, Trainer: Ed Dunlop, Jockey: Ryan Moore.
2009 – Sariska, 9/4, Trainer: Michael Bell, Jockey: Jamie Spencer.
2008 – Look Here, 33/1, Trainer: Ralph Beckett, Jockey: Seb Sanders.
2007 – Light Shift, 13/2, Trainer: Henry Cecil, Jockey: Ted Durcan.
2006 – Alexandrova, 9/4, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Kieren Fallon.