Winning the Kentucky Derby is the goal of any Thoroughbred jockey due to several factors. First, it’s the most famous and prestigious race in the world, and that’s enough for most riders. Second, it presents a challenge unlike any other race, requiring a jockey to navigate his horse 1 ¼ miles among a field with up to 19 opponents and in front of about 150,000 screaming fans. And, oh yeah, third: the victorious Kentucky Derby jockey will receive approximately 10% of the winner’s share of the purse, or $310,000 out of $3.1 million (from the total purse of $5 million this year).
Tag: The Sport
Smarty Jones Leads List of 2025 Racing Hall of Fame Inductees
Seven new members have been elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, led by Smarty Jones, the lone selection in the contemporary category. Edward L. Bowen, Arthur B. Hancock III, and Richard Ten Broeck have been elected by the Pillars of the Turf Committee.
Kentucky Derby Hot Takes: What Will Happen, What Won’t Happen?
If there’s ever a time to have a bold opinion in horse racing, it’s the Kentucky Derby. What’s the fun in betting the favorite in the world’s biggest horse race? Holding a contrarian view in betting event filled with 20 contenders can mean massive returns.
2025 Kentucky Oaks Cheat Sheet
The $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks is the premier dirt race for 3-year-old fillies in North America, a 1 1/8-mile test that goes a long way toward determining the Eclipse Award in the division and often serves as a springboard to stardom.
