York Ebor Festival 2025 Finale Promises Star-Studded Races and Heritage Showcases
The Ebor Festival 2025 at York Racecourse is gearing up for its grand finale on August 23rd, with racing fans anticipating a day filled with top-class contests and historic highlights. Among the featured events is the legendary Ebor race, first run in 1843, which remains one of the festival’s most celebrated races. Scheduled races begin at 1:50 pm, concluding with the final race at 5:20 pm, offering a full afternoon of high-quality racing action.
The day will open with the Strensall Stakes, a Group 3 race over 1 mile 1 furlong with a prize fund of £170,000. Contenders include Fox Legacy (T: Andrew Balding), Bullet Point (T: William Haggas), Gladius (T: Andrew Balding), Cash (T: David Simcock), King’s Gambit (T: Harry Charlton), Checkandchallenge (T: William Knight), King of Cities (T: Richard Hannon), Diego Ventura (T: Hamad Al Jehani), Boiling Point (T: K. R. Burke), Skukuza (T: Ed Dunlop), First Conquest (T: Charlie Appleby), and Bowmark (T: John & Thady Gosden).
Following this is the Melrose Stakes, a heritage handicap for three-year-olds over 1 mile 6 furlongs with £170,000 on offer at 2:25 pm. Key entries include Light As Air (T: Aidan O’Brien), Cape Breton (T: Ralph Beckett), Sea of Kings (T: Harry Eustace), Love Talk (T: Grant Tuer), Daiquiri Bay (T: Alan King), Talismans Time (T: Edward Bethell), and Delta (T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien). Other notable runners are Tarriance (T: Andrew Balding), Novelista (T: Charlie Johnston), Fantasy World (T: Andrew Balding), Team Player (T: Gemma Tutty), Pole Star (T: Charlie Johnston), Golden Handshake (T: William Haggas), Boatswain (T: Simon & Ed Crisford), Too Soon (T: Gary & Josh Moore), and Push The Limit (T: Ralph Beckett).
At 3:00 pm, the City of York Stakes, a Group 1 contest over 7 furlongs with £600,000 at stake, will see a competitive field featuring Annaf (T: Michael Appleby), Seagulls Eleven (T: Hugo Palmer), Maranoa Charlie (T: Christopher Head), Audience (T: John & Thady Gosden), Ten Bob Tony (T: Ed Walker), Never So Brave (T: Andrew Balding), Cosmic Year (T: Harry Charlton), Qirat (T: Ralph Beckett), Exactly (T: Aidan O’Brien), Quinault (T: Stuart Williams), Ides of March (T: Aidan O’Brien), Rosallion (T: Richard Hannon), and Lake Forest (T: William Haggas).
The highlight of the festival, the Ebor race, a heritage handicap for four-year-olds and older over 1 mile 6 furlongs with £500,000 in prize money, is scheduled at 3:35 pm. A few of the key entries are Miller Spirit (T: Gary & Josh Moore), Too Bossy For Us (T: W. P. Mullins), Enemy (T: Ian Williams), Lieber Power (T: Andrew Balding), Shadow Dance (T: Roger Varian), Charging Thunder (T: James Owen), French Master (T: John & Thady Gosden), Raja Raja (T: David Simcock), En Or (T: A. J. Martin), Mr Percy (T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien), Tribal Star (T: Adrian McGuinness), London City (T: Aidan O’Brien), and Siege of Troy (T: J. P. Murtagh).
The afternoon continues with the Constantine Stakes, a 6-furlong heritage handicap for three-year-olds and older at 4:10 pm with £120,000 on offer. Entries include Dyonisos (T: Ian Williams), Rare Change (T: Richard Hughes), Chief Mankato (T: Jack Channon), Northern Express (T: Michael Dods), We Never Stop (T: Kevin Ryan), King’s Call (T: Seb Spencer), Super Saiyan (T: Billy Aprahamian), Elmonjed (T: William Haggas), Roberto Caro (T: Adrian Keatley), Commanche Falls (T: Michael Dods), Northern Ticker (T: Michael Dods), and Zayer (T: Archie Watson).
The Julia Graves Roses Stakes, a listed race for two-year-olds over 5 furlongs with £100,000 at stake, will be contested at 4:45 pm. Notable entrants include Rydale Frosty (T: David Simcock), Kinnalargy (T: Kevin Ryan), Comical Point (T: Andrew Balding), Silent Applause (T: Charlie Appleby), Military Code (T: Charlie Appleby), Dickensian (T: Kevin Ryan), Slay Queen (T: Richard Hannon), Mission Central (T: Aidan O’Brien), Exclamation (T: Grace Harris), Zelaina (T: K. R. Burke), Our Cody (T: Richard Hughes), First Approach (T: Aidan O’Brien), Revival Power (T: Tim Easterby), Kansas (T: Aidan O’Brien), and Chairmanfourtimes (T: Adrian Keatley).
The day concludes with the Steve Birch Finale Stakes, a heritage handicap over 1 mile 2 furlongs with £100,000 for the winner at 5:20 pm. A few of the entries are Gladius (T: Andrew Balding), Sujet (T: D. K. Weld), Dante’s Lad (T: George Boughey), Ron O (T: David Thompson), Zain Blue (T: John Butler), Brioni (T: Alan King), Naqeeb (T: Julie Camacho), Greek Order (T: Michael Bell), Take Heart (T: David Menuisier), and Dark Moon Rising (T: Kevin Ryan).
The Ebor Festival 2025 finale promises a day of memorable racing, showcasing Britain’s finest horses, jockeys, and trainers across historic and contemporary contests.
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