The Cost of Glory: How Much Each Horse in the 2025 Kentucky Derby Was Bought For

The 151st edition of the Kentucky Derby, held on May 3, 2025, isn’t just a showcase of speed and stamina—it’s also a vivid display of financial disparity. With horses ranging from million-dollar acquisitions to budget-friendly underdogs, this year’s Derby proves once again that price doesn’t always predict performance. Here’s a breakdown of what each contender cost and why the numbers don’t always tell the full story.

Striking Disparity: From Chunk of Gold to Sandman and Baeza

Perhaps the most talked-about contrast in the 2025 Derby lineup is between Chunk of Gold and Sandman/Baeza. While Sandman and Baeza were purchased for an eye-watering $1.2 million each, Chunk of Gold was snapped up for a mere $2,500 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton fall yearling sale. Yes, you read that right—the cheapest horse in the field cost 480 times less than the most expensive!

Full List: How Much Each 2025 Kentucky Derby Horse Cost

Here’s the complete cost list of all 20 horses racing at Churchill Downs:

Post Position	Horse	Price
1	Citizen Bull	$675,000
2	Neoequos	$22,000
3	Final Gambit	Homebred
4	Rodriguez	$485,000
5	American Promise	$750,000
6	Admire Daytona	$480,276
7	Luxor Café	Homebred
8	Journalism	$825,000
9	Burnham Square	Homebred
10	Grande	$300,000
11	Flying Mohawk	$72,000
12	East Avenue	Homebred
13	Publisher	$600,000
14	Tiztastic	$335,000
15	Render Judgment	$310,000
16	Coal Battle	$70,000
17	Sandman	$1,200,000
18	Sovereignty	Homebred
19	Chunk of Gold	$2,500
20	Owen Almighty	$350,000

Does Price Predict Performance? History Says No

You might expect the priciest horses to dominate, but Derby history suggests otherwise. Recent winners like:

• Mystik Dan (2024) – a homebred
• Mage (2023) – cost only $290,000
• Rich Strike (2022) – stunned everyone after being bought for just $30,000

In fact, since 1960, 33 Derby winners came from public auctions, but only one—Fusaichi Pegasus—exceeded $575,000 in cost. This trend underlines a key fact: success in the Derby often comes down to training, strategy, and sheer heart, not just price tags.

Chunk of Gold: A Potential Cinderella Story?

With a humble $2,500 investment, Chunk of Gold could become the most affordable Derby winner since 1960 if he crosses the finish line first. Regardless of the outcome, his presence among million-dollar competitors already marks him as a fan favorite and a symbol of possibility.

Conclusion

The Kentucky Derby 2025 lineup reminds us that while money plays a major role in the sport, it doesn’t guarantee victory. Whether you’re cheering for the elite-priced Sandman, a mid-tier contender like American Promise, or the budget-friendly Chunk of Gold, this year’s race offers something for every racing fan—and perhaps, another lesson in the unpredictability of greatness.

Stay tuned for post-race analysis, updates on the winning horse, and behind-the-scenes insights from Churchill Downs.