The final stop of the Triple Crown tour is here.
The 2024 Belmont Stakes is happening this weekend, as some of the top horses and jockeys in the world are in New York for the annual event.
The main appeal of horse racing for fans revolves around the betting. The two-minute races can drastically alter a person’s finances, provided they are willing to put the money where their mouth is and throw down a wager.
However, gamblers aren’t the only ones going home with cash in hand. In addition to bragging rights and a piece of hardware, the team of the winning horse also receives a nice payday for its victory.
Unfortunately, there will be no Triple Crown winner this year. After Mystik Dan took first place at the Kentucky Derby, it was Seize the Grey that crossed the finish line first at the Preakness Stakes.
Here’s what you need to know about the Preakness Stakes prize money in 2024.
MORE: Full post positions, draw, odds for 2024 Belmont Stakes
This year’s Belmont Stakes purse is $2 million. It marks a 33-percent increase from last year, where it was set at $1.5 million.
It marks the highest purse to date in Belmont history. In 2019, the last running before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Belmont Stake purse was at a total of $1.5 million. It dropped to $1 million in 2021 before the bump in 2022.
The winner of the 2024 Belmont Stakes is set to receive $1.2 million, which is approximately 60 percent of the total purse.
The top eight winners at the 2024 Belmont Stakes each share a piece of the $2 million prize.
Here is the full breakdown of the prize money for the 2024 Belmont Stakes.
| Place | Prize Money |
| 1 | $1.2 million |
| 2 | $360,000 |
| 3 | $200,000 |
| 4 | $100,000 |
| 5 | $60,000 |
| 6 | $40,000 |
| 7 | $20,000 |
| 8 | $20,000 |
All three Triple Crown races are seeing an increase in prize money this year.
The Belmont Stakes’ purse is less than half the size of the Kentucky Derby’s $5 million purse. However, it’s equal to the Preakness Stakes’ purse, with both coming in at $2 million.
| Race | Date | Purse (2024 figures) |
| Kentucky Derby | May 4, 2024 | $5 million |
| Preakness Stakes | May 18, 2024 | $2 million |
| Belmont Stakes | June 8, 2024 | $2 million |
