1146 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Prize money is permitted only in a camel race, an archery contest, or a horse race.” It was recorded by Ahmad and the three compilers (Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, and al-Nasa’i), and Ibn Hibban authenticated it. (1)

Degree of the hadith
The hadith is sound (sahih).
Ibn ʿAbd al-Hadi said: “It was narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, al-Nasa’i, al-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Hibban, and Ibn al-Qattan declared it authentic.”
Ibn Daqiq al-ʿId likewise graded it sahih, as cited in Ibn Hajar’s Talkhis.
Shaykh al-Albani stated: “It was transmitted by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, al-Nasa’i, al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Hibban, and al-Bayhaqi. Al-Tirmidhi classified it as hasan and said its chain is sahih; all of its narrators are trustworthy.” The hadith has additional chains:
1 – From Abu Hurayrah as well: narrated by Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and al-Nasa’i; the chain includes Abu al-Hakam, who is unknown.
2 – From Abu Hurayrah again: narrated by Ahmad and al-Nasa’i; the chain includes Ibn Luhayʿah. The isnad in al-Nasa’i is sound and all of its narrators are trustworthy.
3 – From Ibn ʿAbbas: narrated by al-Tabarani; its narrators are reliable, though al-Gharawi is weak.
4 – From Ibn ʿUmar: narrated by Ibn ʿAdi and Ibn Hibban; the chain contains ʿAsim ibn ʿUmar, who is weak. In light of all these routes, the hadith is graded sahih.