The Jockey Club Prize Money 2026 programme has been confirmed at a record £61.47 million across its 15 racecourses, marking a significant year-on-year rise from the £58.1 million figure set for 2025 and underlining renewed investment across British racing. The increase reflects a wider strategy aimed at strengthening race quality, supporting participants and encouraging long-term growth across the horse population.
The uplift has been driven by three main elements. The most visible is a £1.375 million increase to prize funds at the Derby Festival in 2026, alongside a slight expansion in the fixture list to 322 meetings, up from 319 last year. Additional funding has also been directed toward top-level and developmental contests, supported by industry levy funding and increased internal investment from the organisation itself.
Of the overall total, £31.7 million will come directly from the organisation’s own resources, an increase from £30.6 million the previous year. That contribution highlights the growing financial commitment toward maintaining competitive racing opportunities across the calendar.
Average returns per fixture are projected to exceed £190,000 in 2026, compared with £182,000 in 2025, reinforcing the upward trend in financial support across the sport’s structure.
What Jockey Club Prize Money 2026 means for the sport’s future
Senior leadership emphasised that prize money remains a cornerstone of racing’s ecosystem, helping sustain owners, trainers, jockeys and stable staff while maintaining competitiveness at every level. Executives also noted that prize funds now account for more than 70% of overall profits, a sharp rise from just over half in 2019, reflecting the growing priority placed on reinvesting back into the sport.
Group racing officials added that targeted increases at the highest and developmental tiers are designed to help grow horse numbers and maintain Britain’s competitive standing internationally, particularly amid changing industry trends.
The figures remain budgeted totals and may vary depending on fixture changes during the season, with individual race values to be confirmed closer to each meeting.
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