- The 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup will take place on Friday March 14 in 2025
- The Gold Cup is one of the most lucrative horse jump races in Europe
- Galopin Des Champs is bidding for a historic third successive Gold Cup
Cheltenham Festival returns next week for what will be another round of high-octane action at the races.
The pinnacle of the festival is the prestigious Gold Cup, which is one of the most coveted trophies in all of horse racing.
Due to its prestige, the Gold Cup has been known to drastically increase the profile of winning jockeys and trainers – should they come out of the event victorious.
So, how much does the winner of the Gold Cup earn and how much money is up for grabs at the event overall?
Read on below for everything you need to know about Gold Cup prize money.
The Cheltenham Festival makes its long-awaited return in 2025 as one of the most significant events in the horse racing calendar
2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs is seen with groom Adam Connolly
Gold Cup 2025: Prize Money
The 2025 Gold Cup has an enormous prize pot of £625,000 ($800,000), which is split between the top five finishers of the race.
The winner will take home around £351,688, as revealed in 2023 by Mrs Audrey Turley, the owner of back-to-back winner Galopin Des Champs.
Second place will pocket £132,500, third will walk away with £66,312, fourth place gets £33,125 and finishing fifth pockets £16,625.
The significance of the prize money makes the Gold Cup the most lucrative jump race in the UK and Ireland behind only the Grand National.
How much money does the winning jockey of the Gold Cup earn?
Owners and trainers walk away with the majority of the prize money, however jockeys do earn a small amount for their role in riding the horses in the race.
The winning Jockey usually takes home between eight and nine per cent of the prize, which means that the winning jockey of the Gold Cup will walk away with an estimated £50,000.
Jockeys who manage to place also take home a small amount of the prize money but it is usually only around three to four per cent of the total amount.
Paul Townend riding Galopin Des Champs in action alongside Fastorslow during the Gold Cup in 2024
2024 Gold Cup: What you need to know
The 2024 Gold Cup will feature 16 horses who will all compete for the £625,000 winners prize.
The prestigious race will be held on the final day of Cheltenham, which is Friday, March 14 in 2025.
The race is due to get underway at 3:30pm UK time and will be broadcast live on ITV1 and ITV X in the UK.
Mail Sport will also be keeping you update with all the latest racing action and results from for the week on our site.
16 horses and jockeys will participate in this year’s Gold Cup race on Friday March 14
Gold Cup Participants
- Ahoy Senor (IRE) 10 Wymer & Russell Lucinda Russell
- Banbridge (IRE) 9 Mr R. A. Bartlett Joseph Patrick O’Brien Ireland Conflated (IRE)
- 11 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
- Corbetts Cross (IRE) 8 Mr John P. McManus Emmet Mullins Ireland
- Embassy Gardens 9 Sean & Bernardine Mulryan W. P. Mullins Ireland
- Fact To File (FR) 8 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland
- Galopin des Champs (FR) 9 Mrs Audrey Turley W. P. Mullins Ireland
- Gentlemansgame 9 Robcour M. F. Morris Ireland
- Gerri Colombe (FR) 9 Robcour Gordon Elliott Ireland
- Grangeclare West (IRE) 9 Cheveley Park Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland
- Grey Dawning (IRE) 8 Mr Robert Kirkland Dan Skelton
- Hewick (IRE) 10 Mr T. J. McDonald Tara Lee Cogan Ireland
- Il Est Francais (FR) 7 Kelvin-Hughes & Haras De St Voir N. George & A. Zetterholm France
- Jungle Boogie (IRE) 11 Mr Malcolm C. Denmark Henry de Bromhead Ireland
- L’homme Presse (FR) 10 Dfa Racing (Pink,Edwards & Sharman) Venetia Williams
- Minella Cocooner (IRE) 9 Mr David Bobbett W. P. Mullins Ireland
- Monty’s Star (IRE) 8 Mr Barry Maloney Henry de Bromhead Ireland
- Royale Pagaille (FR) 11 Mrs S. Ricci Venetia Williams
- The Real Whacker (IRE) 9 Neville, Mann, Duffus, Dennis-Price Patrick Neville
