Every spring, the Kentucky Derby turns Churchill Downs into the centre of the horse racing world. It’s where champions are made, legends are born, and sometimes—if you picked the right longshot—fans cash a ticket that feels almost unreal.
Below is a look at some of the most famous Kentucky Derby winners of all time, plus what you would have received back on a $2 Win, Place, or Show bet.
Quick note on the numbers: These are pari-mutuel payouts, meaning they’re based on the betting pool. The payout includes your original $2 stake (so it’s the total amount returned to you, not just profit).
Famous Kentucky Derby Winners and $2 Payoffs
| Horse (Year) | Why it’s legendary | $2 Win | $2 Place | $2 Show |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secretariat (1973) | Record-setting performance and racing icon | $5.00 | $3.20 | $3.00 |
| Seattle Slew (1977) | Undefeated champion and Triple Crown winner | $3.00 | $2.80 | $2.80 |
| Affirmed (1978) | Part of the sport’s greatest rivalry (vs. Alydar) | $5.60 | $2.80 | $2.60 |
| American Pharoah (2015) | Ended a 37-year Triple Crown drought | $7.80 | $5.80 | $4.20 |
| Justify (2018) | Undefeated Derby winner who kept rolling to the Crown | $7.80 | $6.00 | $4.40 |
| Barbaro (2006) | Dominant Derby win, unforgettable story | $14.20 | $8.00 | $6.00 |
| Mine That Bird (2009) | Shock longshot who stunned the world | $103.20 | $54.00 | $25.80 |
| Country House (2019) | Won after a rare Derby disqualification | $132.40 | $56.60 | $24.60 |
| Rich Strike (2022) | One of the biggest upsets in Derby history | $163.60 | $74.20 | $29.40 |
The Legends Behind the Payoffs
Secretariat (1973): The gold standard
Secretariat didn’t just win—he rewrote what “great” looks like. His Derby win is still one of the most replayed races in history, and the betting returns show he was a popular pick: a $2 win ticket returned $5.00.
Seattle Slew (1977): Unbeaten and unbothered
Seattle Slew is famous because he never lost in his Triple Crown season. As a heavy favourite in the Derby, the payout was small—$3.00 to win on a $2 ticket—but history doesn’t pay in dollars, it pays in legacy.
Affirmed (1978): Heart, grit, and a rival for the ages
Affirmed’s story is tied forever to Alydar. They went at each other again and again, and the Derby was just one chapter. A $2 win bet returned $5.60, showing he was respected—but still beatable on paper.
American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2018): Modern royalty
American Pharoah brought the Triple Crown back after decades, and Justify followed a few years later with another historic run. Both were well-backed, and both paid $7.80 to win on a $2 ticket.
Mine That Bird (2009) and Rich Strike (2022): The “Are you kidding me?” moments
This is why people love the Derby. Sometimes a horse comes out of nowhere and turns a $2 ticket into a real payday:
- Mine That Bird (2009): $2 win paid $103.20
- Rich Strike (2022): $2 win paid $163.60
Those are the kinds of shocks that keep fans dreaming.
Biggest Derby payouts are rare — but they happen
The Kentucky Derby’s record-setting longshots are part of its magic. The all-time record $2 win payout is still credited to Donerail in 1913, returning $184.90 on a $2 ticket.
One more piece of history: when “Place” and “Show” weren’t always there
In some older eras of racing, betting rules were different. For example, legendary champion Citation (1948) is tied to one of the smallest returns, paying $2.80 to win, and records note that place and show betting were not permitted for that race.
