How much does a Kentucky Derby horse cost? Highest paid, average price and more for 2026 field

How much does a Kentucky Derby horse cost? Highest paid, average price and more for 2026 field originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .

All around the sport of horse racing, money is on the line. From the bets made on the races themselves, to the prize money for a race's victor, millions of dollars can be at stake based on the result of a race like the Kentucky Derby — so it only makes sense that the entry level to have a horse in the field is also expensive. An expensive horse doesn't always equate to winning, but among the horses in the 2026 Kentucky Derby field, many were sold to their owners for hundreds of thousands of dollars at minimum.

Here's a look at how much it costs to own a Kentucky Derby horse. MORE: Full 2026 Kentucky Derby post positions How much does a Kentucky Derby horse cost? The prices on racing horses that have competed in the Kentucky Derby has historically ranged from anywhere in the tens-of-thousands to over $2 million, depending on the horse's background.

ESPN also reported in 2013 that horses can cost anywhere from "the low six figures to the low seven figures," with additional costs including development (around $1,500-$3,000 per month), plus training, transportation and entry fees (around $150,000 per month). Of the 20 horses in the 2026 Kentucky Derby, five are homebreds — bred by their current owners — while the rest were purchased by their now-owners. Of those 15 purchased horses, the cheapest horse in the field is Ocelli, a late add due to a scratch, a horse bought for $12,000 in 2024.