What is the cost to enter a horse in the Kentucky Derby?
As a passionate horse racing fan and gamer, the Kentucky Derby is the ultimate event to aim for. I‘m often asked – just how much does it actually cost to enter a horse in the Run for the Roses? Well, let‘s take a look at the nomination, entry, and starting fees Churchill Downs requires:
Nomination Fee – $600-$6,000
The first step is paying either the early or late nomination fee to make your horse eligible:
- Early nomination (before January 1st): $600
- Late nomination (after January 1st): $6,000
Horses must be nominated during one of these windows to qualify for Derby prep races and the 100-40-20-10 points system. This is just to make them eligible though – you still have to earn enough points to make the 20-horse field!
Entry & Starting Fees – $50,000
Okay, your horse has a enough points to make the Derby. Now you have to officially enter them in the big race, which comes with two more big fees:
- Entry fee: $25,000
- Starting fee: $25,000
This $50k ensures your spot in the gate and entry to the "Run for the Roses." These fees are why the Kentucky Derby purse is so much higher than normal races.
Other Major Costs
And we haven‘t even talked about purchasing, training, and racing an elite Thoroughbred over 3 years to set them on the Derby trail! That‘s where the real money is spent. Expect to invest:
- $100,000+ for a potential Derby prospect
- $25,000+ yearly for training, boarding, vet bills, etc.
- Entry fees for prep races (less than the Derby but still substantial for big races)
So when you add up everything – buying the horse, paying trainers and jockeys over 3 years, the prep race and Derby nomination and entry fees – it easily approaches $500,000-$1 million per horse!
No wonder the Kentucky Derby winner earns a purse over $1.5 million (with over $800k for second). The potential payoff helps offset those massive costs.
As a gamer, putting up six-figures for a chance at seven-figures+ in winnings appeals to my high-risk, high-reward nature!
