What is the Prize Money for Cheltenham Festival?

Source: Alamy Stock Photo

How much money do jockeys earn for winning the Cheltenham Festival’s top races? Here’s everything you need to know about the prize money at Cheltenham.

The Cheltenham Festival is one of the biggest events in the horse racing calendar. In 1819, the first race titled the Cheltenham Gold Cup was held, with the winning horse earning its owner 100 guineas (just over £100 in today’s money). Meanwhile, in 1924, the first official Gold Cup was held at the Cheltenham Festival, with its winner earning £685 – worth more than £35,000 today.

Now, Cheltenham winners are earning more than ever before, but how much money is on the line each day of the event? We’ll show how much competitors can make in each race of the festival, and compare to the Cheltenham prize money from past years. Here’s your guide to everything you need to know about the prize money at Cheltenham.

What is the total prize money for Cheltenham Festival?

The prize money at Cheltenham Festival varies depending on the event being competed in, but across the whole weekend, a record-breaking £4.93 million pounds will be awarded in total to the winners of various races – almost £200,000 more than the 2024 festival. The Cheltenham Gold Cup has the most prize money of any race at the festival, with riders competing for a total of £625,000 in 2024 – of which £351,687 is on the line for first place this year.

Cheltenham prize money for each day of the festival

With 28 races taking place across four days, the schedule for the Cheltenham Festival is packed with chances for jockeys to win big – but which days have the biggest races? Here’s our guide to Cheltenham’s prize money throughout the week:

Cheltenham day 1 prize money

Day 1 of Cheltenham, known as Champion Day, sees a total prize pool of £1.35 million available. The highest individual winnings of the day are for the Unibet Champion Hurdle, where first place takes home £253,215 out of a total £450,000 purse. Here are the events of the first day of Cheltenham by prize money:

Cheltenham day 2 prize money

The second day of Cheltenham is Style Wednesday, which sees racers compete for their share of a £1.15 million total prize pool. The most significant event by winnings is the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase, where the winner earns £225,080 of a total £400,000. Here’s the schedule for day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival, plus each event’s prize money:

Cheltenham day 3 prize money

St. Patrick’s Thursday – the third day of Cheltenham – is home to two of the biggest races of the event. The Ryanair Steeple Chase has the highest winnings available, with £375,000 in total prize money, and £211,013 going to the overall winner. Meanwhile, the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle sees racers compete for their share of £325,000. The total prize money for the day is £1.255 million.

Cheltenham day 4 prize money

The final day of the Cheltenham Festival is Gold Cup day, which sees the race of the same name take place. The Cheltenham Gold Cup prize money is the highest amount available to win at Cheltenham, as racers compete to win the top prize of £351,687.50, while runners-up earn a cut of the £625,000 purse. With over £2.52 million available to win across its seven events, it’s the day with the most prize money on the line.

How has the Cheltenham Gold Cup prize money changed over time?

Some of Cheltenham’s most successful horses have taken home the week’s top prize, but historically, how much does the jockey get for winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup? Here’s a breakdown of the Gold Cup prize money since 2000, showing how much the winnings have changed over the years:

Looking to prove your racing knowledge by betting on the Cheltenham Festival? You can find the best Cheltenham betting odds available from Betway, as well as all the info you need before watching the event. For instance, find out which jockeys have the most wins at Cheltenham, or get caught up on the history of the Cheltenham’s Gold Cup winners!