Grand National Prize Money | Prize Fund
There are huge sums of cash at stake at the Grand National, with at least £1 million in Grand National prize money on offer again in 2025. Find out more about what is one of the richest horse races in the world, including the Grand National sponsors and the Grand National prize money breakdown.
Grand National prize money breakdown
The Grand National is one of the richest and most rewarding horse races in the world, giving £1 million in total prize money with around half of that going to the winner.
In the Grand National 2017, we saw the Lucinda Russell-trained One For Arthur win the race at 14/1 for owners Deborah Thompson and Belinda McClung. These two unknown owners hit the big-time when landing the £500k first prize. With a £1million prize haul, it pays out even on the 10th-placed horse. Getting £5k for just completing the course can pay its way.
With 40 runners, this means only 25% of the horses will get prize money. But going down to 10th place is much further down than any other race on the racing calendar.
The winner receives in excess of £500k – a large amount for most horse racing owners, and with all the spin-offs and public appearances at Grand National winner can make afterwards then many boast their earning this way too. With a £350k difference between finishing first and second, the stakes are high. Just a nose – like in 2012 when Neptune Collonges beat Sunnyhillboy can be a bitter blow for the runner-up – not just in the prestige of winning the Grand National, but also in terms of prize money!
Third takes home £105k, while 4th pockets £52k in cash, with 5th netting £26k, 6th £13k, 7th £6k, 8th £3k, 9th £2k and 10th £1k.
Grand National Festival – Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, Britain – April 14, 2018 Davy Russell celebrates with a trophy after winning the 17:15 Randox Health Grand National Handicap Chase Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs @SCANPIX
Grand National prize money jockeys
In terms of the jockeys, a National Hunt rider will receive in the region of approx £170 over jumps per ride, which in the whole scheme of things when it comes to the Grand National is pretty insignificant. We’re sure most jockeys would ride in the race for free!
Some jockeys have personal arrangements with owners and they receive a riders’ retainers fee for riding all that owner’s horses. Powerful owners like JP McManus is an example of this, who used to have AP McCoy before he retired, riding for him for a reported £1million a year.
As well as their riders’ fees, the winning jockeys will also get a percentage of the prize money. On average this is around 8% for a winning ride or 4% for a placed finish. Therefore, based on this, the winning jockey of the Grand National in the present day will pocket around £45k for riding the winner!
Grand National prize money by places
- 1st – £561,300
- 2nd – £211,100
- 3rd – £105,500
- 4th – £52,700
- 5th – £26,500
- 6th – £13,200
- 7th – £6,800
- 8th – £3,600
- 9th – £2,000
- 10th – £1,000
Grand National race sponsors
Over the years the Aintree Grand National has had many alcohol-based race sponsors, though the current supporter of the world’s greatest steeplechase is Randox Health.
In recent years we’ve seen Canadian gin firm Seagram Distillers sponsor the race from 1984 to 1991. Then we’ve had Martell (1992-2004), John Smith’s (2005-2013) and Crabbie’s (2014-2016) before Randox Health took over with a contract currently running through till 2025.
Unlike the big championship races like the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle, the Grand National is a race that everyday horse racing owners have a chance of winning.
Yes, they still need a touch of class and, of course, stamina to win the race. But being a handicap, this always makes the Grand National open to a variety of horses of different ability. We see heavyweight owners like Trevor Hemmings, JP McManus and Gigginstown House Stud, who have won three of the last five renewals, win the Grand National. But in recent years we’ve also seen Grand National Prize money going to the likes of Auroras Encore, Pineau De Re and One For Arthur. They are winning the race for everyday owners that might only have a few horses running under their name.
Grand National Prize Money FAQs
Do jockeys get a percentage of winnings at the Grand National?
The simple answer is that jockeys do receive a percentage of winnings for racing in the Grand National; however, the breaking down of how much they make is quite complicated. The salary of a jockey is different depending on what race they are involved in and on how many places bookies are paying out. Jockeys will receive around 8% of the advertised prize money and around 2-3% of the place prize money.
How much prize money will you receive for winning the 2025 Grand National?
With £1million given out, 1st place of course receives the most. The 2025 Grand National winner will receive around £561,000. The rest of the £1m is given out to 2nd-10th place.
You might also like…
About GrandNational.org.uk
