Held on the first Saturday in May each year the Kentucky Derby is the most well known contest in the international horse racing circuit.
The Kentucky Derby trophy is an 8” diameter cup made of 14 karat spun gold sitting on a jade base and sitting atop the cup is a horse and jockey. The overall height of the trophy is 22 inches.
The Kentucky Derby trophy was first presented in 1924 on its 50th anniversary of the historical race.
In addition to the shiny Kentucky Derby trophy the horse owners will also be competing for a $2,000,000 purse that is distributed over five places:
Winner $1,240,000 (62%)
Second $400,000 (20%)
Third $200,000 (10%)
Fourth $100,000 (5%)
Fifth $60,000 (3%)
Three smaller versions of the Kentucky Derby trophy are created each year our of silver and presented to the jockey, the trainer and the breeder.
To date only 11 horses have swept the Triple Crown starting with the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.