Jockey Rich List - The world’s highest-earning jockeys

When you think of the world’s highest-earning sportspeople, the likes of footballers, Formula 1 drivers and boxers probably spring to mind, but some of the highest-earning sports stars in the world are unknown to even some of the biggest sports fans.

Horse racing jockeys compete for some eye-watering sums of money, and while a big chunk of their winnings goes to the owners of the horses, many of them have still racked up some quite incredible sums over the years.

Even more surprising, many of the sport’s top earners aren’t even that well known outside their own countries, with no British names making the top 50. However, one name is based in the UK, and you will likely be aware of a certain Italian by the name of Frankie Dettori

1. Yutaka Take

• Career earnings - $950m
• Career wins - 4,495

Taking the top spot is Japan’s Yutaka Take, who has earned an estimated $925m throughout his extensive career, picking up nearly 4,500 wins in the process. With a record like that, Take is certainly the hottest ticket in town. 

While he might not be that well known on these shores, Take is a living legend in his native Japan, and holds multiple records after following in the footsteps of his father, Kunihiko, who was also a famed jockey. 

2. Norihiro Yokoyama

• Career earnings - $615m
• Career wins - 2,941

Another Japanese jockey takes second place, Norihiro Yokoyama, with career earnings of $615m. Again, Yokoyama is virtually unknown outside of his home country, yet has still had some impressive winnings over the years. 

As you can see, prize funds in Japan are much higher than for jockeys in the UK or USA, leading many foreign jockeys to try their way at racing there. Although it must be said, if you take on the Japanese on their own turf, you are unlikely to find many wins. 

3. Yuichi Fukunaga

• Career earnings - $561m
• Career wins - 2,636

We stay in Japan for the third jockey in the list and this position is taken by none other than Yuichi Fukunaga. 

In 2024, Fukunaga made a switch to the paddock after being granted his training license two years prior. This means he will not be able to add to his 2,541 career wins but with $561m worth of winnings being collected, he does not need to either.

4. Masayoshi Ebina

• Career earnings - $505m
• Career wins - 2,541

It is no change in fourth place and filling this position is another recenly retired Japanese jockey. Masayoshi Ebina's career ends with 2,541 wins and $505m in terms of career earnings.

Ebina was best known for riding El Condor Pasa and also had some success outside of his native country, winning the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and coming second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, both in France.

5. John R. Velazquez

• Career earnings - $478m
• Career wins - 6,589

The first of the non-Japanese jockeys find themselves in fifth place and with 6,485 race wins to their name, John R. Velazquez is flying the flag for those men and women who race in North America.

Velazquez is no stranger to winning the American classics, as the now 52-year old has picked up three Kentucky Derbies, two Belmont Stakes and a Preakness Stakes victory. Not only that, but he has become the American champion jockey by earnings on two separate occasions. 

Around The World

There is no doubt that Japan have ruled the roost when it comes to top five representation but how do things look from a top 50 perspective. If we were to take the nationalities of each of the half century of jockeys, this is what the table would look like: 

Of the 50 jockeys in our data table, 29 come from the land of the rising sun. That’s 58% of the list representing Japan and some 20 more than what the United States are bringing to the table.

Once past these two countries, Puerto Rico supply three jockeys and their Carribbean neighbours Panama supply two.

While honourable mentions need to go to five countries as the quintet of France, Peru, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, also have a sole epresentative on our list of earners and of course, we cannot complete this list without mentioning Italy. 

The European nation supplies two jockeys into the top 50 and although Mirco Demuro is listed in 21st overall, it is his compatriot that is far better known in global racing circles and he is the only top 50 jockey to ply most of their trade in the UK.

The man in queston is of course than Frankie Dettori and with estimated career earnings of over $223m, it shows that even for all his UK-based success, just how significantly higher the prize purses are in other countries (especially Japan).

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