Entering a horse in the Kentucky Derby involves several significant costs beyond just owning the horse itself:
- Cost of purchasing a Derby-quality horse: The average auction price for horses in recent Derbies is around $446,000, with some horses costing over $1 million and others much less (e.g., one horse was bought for $2,500, but most are in the six-figure range)
- Maintenance and training costs: Owners typically spend about $50,000 per year on training, food, veterinary care, and other expenses. Since horses qualify for the Derby as three-year-olds, these costs accumulate over several years
- Qualifying race expenses: Entering and transporting the horse to qualifying races before the Derby can add approximately $175,000 in costs
- Kentucky Derby entry fees: Once qualified, the fees to enter the Derby itself are $50,000 total, split into a $25,000 entry fee plus a $25,000 starting fee at Churchill Downs. Additionally, there is a nomination fee of about $600 if registered early
- Jockey fees: Minimum jockey fee for the Derby is around $500
Summing these, the total cost to get a horse to the starting gate at the Kentucky Derby can be roughly $800,000 or more, depending on the horse's purchase price and upkeep expenses
. In summary, the key fixed costs to enter a horse in the Kentucky Derby are:
- Nomination fee: ~$600
- Entry fee: $25,000
- Starting fee: $25,000
Along with the substantial investment in purchasing and maintaining a top- quality thoroughbred racehorse, plus qualifying race expenses and jockey fees
