Sovereignty beat favorite Journalism to win the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Saturday. The main event at Churchill Downs had a total purse of $5 million, distributed among the top five finishers.
Sovereignty won Kentucky Derby 2025 on Saturday (Getty Images via AFP)
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Post-race, winning jockey Junion Alvarado told NBC Sports: “This is a dream come true. Sovereignty gave me everything, and I just guided him home.”
William I Mott, Sovereignty's trainer, said: “Sovereignty showed his heart today. This win means everything after so many close calls.”
Meanwhile, famed trainer Bob Baffert's horse, Citizen Bull, finished 15th after leading from pole position.
Prize Money Breakdown
The 2025 Kentucky Derby purse is allocated as follows:
1st Place: $3.1 million
2nd Place: $1 million
3rd Place: $500,000
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4th Place: $250,000
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4th Place: $250,000
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5th Place: $150,000
Sovereignty (1st Place)
Total Prize: $3.1 million
Owner’s Share: Approximately 80% of the prize, or $2.48 million. The owners, Godolphin, receive the majority, per CBS Sports.
Jockey’s Share: Typically 10% of the prize, or $310,000, for jockey Junior Alvarado. A portion of this may go to the jockey’s agent and valet.
Trainer’s Share: Typically 10% of the prize, or $310,000, for trainer Bill Mott.
Journalism (2nd Place)
Total Prize: $1 million
Owner’s Share: Approximately 80% of the prize, or $800,000, split among owners Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5, Bob LaPenta, Mrs. John Magnier-Lessee, Derrick Smith-Lessee, and Michael Tabor-Lessee.
Jockey’s Share: Typically 5% of the prize for second place, or $50,000, for jockey Umberto Rispoli.
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Trainer’s Share: Typically 10% of the prize, or $100,000, for trainer Michael McCarthy, based on standard splits.
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.
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Home/Sports/Us Sports/Kentucky Derby: Here's how much prize money winners Sovereignty, Journalism get?
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