Over the last 100+ years, the Stayers' Hurdle prize pot has ballooned from just £100 for the winner in 1912. But what is the prize money in 2026?
The Stayers’ Hurdle is one of the most important events in the racing calendar. Held on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival each year, it’s the biggest long-distance hurdle race in the National Hunt season.
When it was first held in 1912, the winner of the Stayers’ Hurdle won £100, which would be worth more than £14,500 today! In the years since then, however, the prize pot has continued to grow, making the race one of the most prestigious at Cheltenham.
Let’s take a look at how the prize money for the Stayers’ Hurdle has changed over the last 25 years, as well as predicting how much the winners could earn at the next edition of the event.
What is the Stayers’ Hurdle prize pot for Cheltenham 2026?
The prize money for the 2026 Stayers’ Hurdle has not been fully revealed, but we can look back at previous races to get an idea of how much competitors could earn.
Since 2019, the Stayers’ Hurdle prize money has remained relatively consistent (with the exception of 2021 when COVID-19 impacted Cheltenham’s finances); here’s how much the 2026 Stayers’ Hurdle winner can expect to win based on the 2025 race, as well as how much the runners-up could earn:
Place | Prize |
1st | £182,878 |
2nd | £68,900 |
3rd | £34,482 |
4th | £17,225 |
5th | £8,645 |
6th | £4,322 |
7th | £2,145 |
8th | £1,105 |
What was the prize money for the Stayers’ Hurdle in 2025?
The overall prize pot for the 2025 Stayers’ Hurdle was £325,000, which has been largely unchanged since 2019. As shown above, the winners of the race received £182,878, with second place earning £68,900 and third place picking up £34,482.
How has the Cheltenham Stayers’ Hurdle prize money changed over time?
The prize pot for the Stayers’ Hurdle has grown massively over the years, with the total winnings more than tripling since the start of the 2000s. Here’s how much every Stayers’ Hurdle winner of the 21st century earned from their victories:
Year | Winning horse | First place prize money | Overall prize pot |
2025 | Bob Olinger | £182,878 | £325,000 |
2024 | Teahupoo | £182,878 | £325,000 |
2023 | Sire Du Berlais | £182,878 | £325,000 |
2022 | Flooring Porter | £182,878 | £325,000 |
2021 | Flooring Porter | £182,878 | £325,000 |
2020 | Lisnagar Oscar | £182,878 | £325,000 |
2019 | Paisley Park | £182,878 | £325,000 |
2018 | Penhill | £192,707 | £338,380 |
2017 | Nichols Canyon | £170,850 | £300,000 |
2016 | Thistlecrack | £170,850 | £300,000 |
2015 | Cole Harden | £170,850 | £300,000 |
2014 | More Of That | £156,612 | £275,000 |
2013 | Solwhit | £156,612 | £275,000 |
2012 | Big Buck’s | £148,070 | £260,000 |
2011 | Big Buck’s | £148,226 | £260,000 |
2010 | Big Buck’s | £148,226 | £260,000 |
2009 | Big Buck’s | £148,226 | £260,000 |
2008 | Inglis Drever | £142,550 | £246,200 |
2007 | Inglis Drever | £149,027 | £250,000 |
2006 | My Way de Solzen | £131,146 | £230,000 |
2005 | Inglis Drever | £116,000 | £200,000 |
2004 | Iris’s Gift | £81,200 | £140,000 |
2003 | Baracouda | £85,260 | £147,000 |
2002 | Baracouda | £72,500 | £125,000 |
2001 | Cheltenham Festival didn’t take place in 2001 | ||
2000 | Bacchanal | £66,700 | £115,000 |
Nowadays, the winning horse earns much more than the whole prize pot was worth in the early 2000s – with a staggering £182,000 up for grabs for first place! Although the prize money at the Stayers’ Hurdle has remained relatively similar over the last several years, there’s every chance it could grow even more in the future, as other Cheltenham events like the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup have continued to grow their purses.
Do you think you know which horse will add their name to the history books next? Head to Betway’s Cheltenham betting page for the latest on all the biggest races at the festival, including our up-to-date Stayers’ Hurdle odds. You can also visit our blog for the latest Cheltenham Festival news, betting picks, and guides to help boost your play.
