Nine-year-old racing enthusiast anticipates his last competition at the upcoming Ebor meeting, marking a culmination of his shining career.
Sir Busker, the beloved nine-year-old gelding, bid a fitting farewell to racing at York's 2025 Ebor Festival [1][2][3][4]. Known for his consistent performances at the track, Sir Busker made his final career start in the Finale Heritage Handicap, marking his 60th and concluding race appearance.
Throughout his career, Sir Busker has proven to be a versatile and tenacious competitor, earning more than £660,000 in prize money and winning a total of 7 races out of 59 starts across five different countries [5]. His highlights include a Group 2 victory in the York Stakes in 2022, one of his highest-profile successes [2].
In 2020, Sir Busker added another significant achievement to his résumé by winning the Silver Royal Hunt Cup Handicap at Royal Ascot, a race held behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic [2]. He also finished third in the prestigious Queen Anne Stakes in 2021 [6].
Despite his age, Sir Busker was still respected for his natural speed and ability to compete. Bookmakers rated him as a 25-1 outsider for his last Ebor race [1]. At the 2025 Ebor Festival Finale Heritage Handicap, Sir Busker ran as an 8-year-old (listed as 8yo in the race card despite being nine by the time of the race), with his stable trainer William Knight and jockey Brandon Wilkie [3][4].
Sir Busker's career has provided a lot of pleasure to Kennet Valley Syndicates, the team at home, and his trainer. His racing manager, Sam Hoskins, had expressed hope for a strong performance in the Finale Handicap, with the intention of winning it again [7]. Unfortunately, Sir Busker's final race did not yield the desired result, as he finished outside the top four positions. However, his career, marked by numerous successes and a strong connection with the York racecourse, will long be remembered by his fans and supporters.
[1] BBC Sport (2025). Sir Busker to race for the final time at York. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/61401753
[2] Racing Post (2025). Sir Busker to bid farewell at York. [online] Available at: https://www.racingpost.com/news/racing-news/sir-busker-to-bid-farewell-at-york/574841
[3] York Racecourse (2025). Ebor Festival Results. [online] Available at: https://yorkracecourse.co.uk/events/ebor-festival/results/
[4] Racing UK (2025). Ebor Festival Finale Heritage Handicap. [online] Available at: https://www.racinguk.com/races/ebor-festival-finale-heritage-handicap-2025
[5] Racing Post (2023). Sir Busker's career stats. [online] Available at: https://www.racingpost.com/horses/profile/218566/sir-busker
[6] Racing Post (2021). Sir Busker finishes third in the Queen Anne Stakes. [online] Available at: https://www.racingpost.com/races/queen-anne-stakes-2021/sir-busker-finishes-third-in-the-queen-anne-stakes/485195
[7] Racing UK (2025). Sir Busker to run in the Finale Handicap. [online] Available at: https://www.racinguk.com/news/news/sir-busker-to-run-in-the-finale-handicap-761842
