Grand National prize money 2026: How much does the winner get?
Thirty four horses and jockeys will race for glory in the 2026 Grand National this afternoon – and for the most lucrative prize in horse jump racing.
The runners and riders have been confirmed for the great race at Aintree, with trainer Willie Mullins aiming for a hat-trick of wins having claimed top spot in each of the past two years with I Am Maximus and Nick Rockett – the latter being ridden by his son, Patrick.
Whoever does emerge victorious at the end of the gruelling 30 fence, four mile and two-and-a-half furlong race will receive an impressive payday, as will those who finish in the top ten.
But exactly how much money will be handed out at the famous steeplechase and how does the amount compare to other famous horse racing events on the calendar?
How much prize money does the Grand National winner get?
Since 2014, the total prize money for the Grand National has been a whopping £1m.
This jackpot is split between the top 10 finishers, with the winner receiving £500,000.
For comparison, the first-ever Grand National, in 1939, had a total prize money pot of just £10,000.
Full list of Grand National prize money for the top ten
Winner – £500,000
Second place – £200,000
Third place – £100,000
Fourth place – £65,000
Fifth place – £40,000
Sixth place – £30,000
Seventh place – £20,000
Eighth place – £15,000
Ninth place – £10,000
Tenth place – £5,000
How the prize money is split between owner, trainer and jockey
Racehorse owners receive about 80 per cent of the prize money, with the remainder mainly split between trainers, jockeys and stable staff.
That means if their horse emerges triumphant, an owner could pocket £400,000.
On average, the winning jockey receives around eight per cent (£40,000), with those that achieve a placed finish getting four per cent.
Jockeys are also paid for their participation in races, while some earn huge sums through personal deals with owners, such as the legendary AP McCoy who was paid a reported £1m a year by JP McManus.
How the prize money compares to other iconic events
The Grand National is the most lucrative event in horse jump racing, dwarfing the the prize money for the Cheltenham Gold Cup – £625,000, with the winner receiving around £364,000.
It does pale in comparison to the prizes on offer in flat racing, however, with the 2026 Epsom Derby purse increasing from £1.5m to £2m for 2026, with £1m going to the winner.
But even that cannot match up to The Saudi Cup and The Everest race in Australia, which are currently the richest horse races in the world, with a prize pot of $20m (£15.4m).
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Grand National prize money 2026: How much does the winner get?
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