2026 Belmont Stakes purse: How much prize money the winning owner and trainer will earn
Sovereignty wins the 2025 Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. (Photo by Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand)
June 1st, 2026
With a purse of $2 million, Saturday’s 158th Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga is one of the richest horse races in North America.
But the Belmont isn’t a winner-takes-all race. The purse is divided among the top eight finishers. How large a share does the winning owner secure? How about the winning trainer? Here’s how the 2026 Belmont Stakes purse breaks down.
How the 2026 Belmont Stakes purse is paid out
As of Sunday, nine horses are under consideration to start in the 2026 Belmont, which means the vast majority will earn a piece of the purse.
The 2026 Belmont purse will be distributed as follows:
1st place: $1.2 million
2nd place: $360,000
3rd place: $200,000
4th place: $100,000
5th place: $60,000
6th place: $40,000
7th place: $20,000
8th place: $20,000
How much prize money will the winning Belmont Stakes owner earn in 2026?
In a typical arrangement, the owner of a Belmont winner takes home 80% of the purse. In 2026, this amounts to $960,000 before taxes. Plus, the winning owner is awarded a trophy.
But running a horse in the Belmont comes with expenses. It costs $15,000 to enter the race and another $15,000 to start. In addition, there’s a Triple Crown nomination fee that costs $600 at the earliest deadline. These payments reduce the winning owner’s profits down to $929,400 before taxes.
However, entry and starting fees are waived for the winner of the Wood Memorial (G2) and the top three finishers from the Peter Pan (G3). In 2026, this will save the owner of Peter Pan winner Growth Equity $30,000 in expenses.
Talk about a high-return investment 📈🏇
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 9, 2026
𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗧𝗛 𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗧𝗬 and Flavien Prat delivered a blue-chip performance in the G3 Peter Pan Stakes, turning a strong position into a major score and putting his stock on the rise toward bigger targets this summer. 💰🔥 pic.twitter.com/P5boENGg9w
If the winning Belmont horse is owned in partnership by multiple people, stables, or groups, the winning purse must be divided among the various ownership entities per the specifics of the partnership. As an example, Dornoch won the 2024 Belmont for five different owners: West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing, and Pin Racing Stables.
How much prize money will the winning Belmont Stakes trainer earn in 2026?
The trainer of a Belmont winner typically receives 10% of the purse. In 2026, this works out to $120,000 before taxes.
In addition, the winning trainer receives a trophy.
