Kentucky Derby Winner Golden Tempo Earns 7-Figure Payment – How Much Exactly?
on May 04, 2026
Golden Tempo Races To Historic Kentucky Derby Victory
Golden Tempo made the 2026 Kentucky Derby a race to remember!
The 152nd Kentucky Derby was held on Saturday, May 2, at the historic Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky. Tedeschi Trucks Band delivered a passionate, bluesy rendition of the National Anthem before the big race.
When the race finally started, Six Speed emerged as the early leader, with So Happy and Danon Bourbon following close behind. Golden Tempo didn’t look like a potential winner at that point, as he was in the back of the pack.
Danon Bourbon took the lead as the race reached the one-mile mark. But then, the horses at the back of the group started to push forward, including Golden Tempo.
Renegade and Golden Tempo moved to the front of the pack, with Golden Tempo eventually securing the win by a neck. Golden Tempo’s finishing time was 2:02.27.
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It was a historic win for multiple reasons. For starters, Golden Tempo’s trainer, Cherie DeVaux, became the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby.
“It really is an honor to be able to be that person for other women or other little girls to look up to,” DeVaux said, as quoted by ESPN. “You can dream big, and you can pivot. You can come from one place and make yourself a part of history.”
Additionally, this was the first time Golden Tempo’s jockey, José Ortiz, ever won the Kentucky Derby. His brother, Irad Ortiz Jr., was the jockey who rode second-place finisher Renegade.
“I get to ride it almost every year, but to get to win it, it’s just special,” ESPN quoted José Ortiz as saying after the race. “I just wish my grandpa was here, but I know he’s looking from heaven. Just very happy that I get my goal, my life dream goal achieved.”
How Much Money Did The Kentucky Derby Winner Earn?
As the winner of the Kentucky Derby, Golden Tempo received a pretty hefty payout. The overall purse at this year’s Kentucky Derby was $5 million, although that was split between the top five finishers.
The Lexington Herald-Leader details how the Kentucky Derby’s purse held $3 million from 2019 to 2023. The purse’s value was increased to $5 million in 2024.
Of course, Golden Tempo galloped away with the largest payout this year. According to NBC Sports, his 7-figure prize totaled $3.1 million.
Obviously, Golden Tempo can’t use the money himself…so where does it go?
NBC Sports reports that “A typical split of the winning purse is 80 percent to the owner/ownership group and the remaining 20 [percent] being split between the trainer and jockey.”
That means that Golden Tempo’s co-owners, Phipps Stable (Daisy Phipps Pulito) and St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola), are expected to receive $2.48 million. Those earnings will be divided in accordance with an agreement between the parties.
As for trainer Cherie DeVaux, she’s expected to earn $310,000 before taxes. Jockey José Ortiz is expected to receive the same amount.
However, other winning jockeys have given some of their prize money to their agent and valet (the person who readies their gear). So that means Jose Ortiz could be left with approximately $217,000 after those payments are distributed.
The second, third, fourth, and fifth-place finishers also earn impressive payouts. NBC Sports listed how much money each of those horses earned this year.
- Golden Tempo: $3.1 million
- Renegade: $1 million
- Ocelli: $500,000
- Chief Wallabee: $250,000
- Danon Bourbon: $150,000
Congratulations to Golden Tempo, his owners, trainer Cherie DeVaux, and jockey José Ortiz on their historic victory! Watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby in the video below.
