How much do jockeys make?
Chloe Ramirez
Updated on January 04, 2026
The salaries of Horse Jockeys in the US range from $10,049 to $271,427 , with a median salary of $48,880 . The middle 57% of Horse Jockeys makes between $48,882 and $123,036, with the top 86% making $271,427.
Who is the highest paid jockey?
The winningest thoroughbred jockey in history is John Velazquez, who has earned $452,078,586 in his long career. He started over 35,000 races, winning 6,407. The next highest-earning U.S. jockey is Javier Castellano, who has started over 30,000 races with 5,503 wins, for earnings of over $368 million.How much money does a jockey make per race?
The amount of money a jockey can make can range widely from $28 a race from lower class races all the way to more than $180,000 per race.How much do jockeys make if they win?
The jockey that successfully crosses the finish line first in the Run for the Roses will obtain 10% of the winner's purse. Thus, a $1.86 million payout to the winning horse equates to a $186,000 share for the rider. Not all of that $186,000 will stay in the jockey's pocket, though.Do jockeys get paid well?
Collectively, these deductions amount to roughly 25% of riding fees and 10% of prize-money. In summary, at the top end of the profession, jockeys can earn hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of pounds a year.How Much Money Do Jockeys Make?
Do jockeys get paid for riding out?
Unlike footballers, cricketers or rugby players, jockeys are almost all self-employed (although a few top riders have contracts to ride for individual trainers or owners) which means that rather than being paid a fixed salary, they charge for each job they take.Is being a jockey a good career?
Advancement Possibilities and Employment OutlookWith hard work, discipline, and experience, jockeys can make a name for themselves. Successful jockeys are known to participate in over 1,000 races every year. Better performance brings with it better opportunities and can also lead to a substantial increase in income.