Busher (USA)
April 27, 1942 – March 22, 1955
War Admiral (USA) x Baby League (USA), by Bubbling Over (USA)
Family 1-x
April 27, 1942 – March 22, 1955
War Admiral (USA) x Baby League (USA), by Bubbling Over (USA)
Family 1-x
One of the most exquisite race mares of her time, Busher ran to her looks. She was the best race horse of any age or gender in a war-shortened 1945 season and was never beaten by any horse during her championship seasons without exacting revenge on her conqueror later. Except in the Spinaway Stakes, in which she got off to a poor start, she was also conceding weight to every horse that defeated her in 1944 and 1945. She only produced five foals before dying of complications of foaling in 1955, but her son Jet Action carried her name forward in pedigrees by siring Fair Charmer, second dam of Seattle Slew.
Race record
21 starts, 15 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$334,035
1944:
1945:
Honors
Assessments
Busher was rated #40 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005). She was second to Ruffian among the 26 fillies and mares on the list.
As an individual
A golden chestnut, Busher stood 16 hands. She was strongly made but not masculine, giving an appearance of perfect symmetry and quality. Racing historian and illustrator C. W. Anderson described her has having one of the most beautiful and intelligent heads ever seen on any Thoroughbred. Her weak point was her ankles, which were fired between her 2- and 3-year-old campaigns; according to Daily Racing Form writer Charles Hatton, she was also somewhat pigeon-toed in front. An ankle injury (also reported as a fractured cannon bone) at the end of her 3-year-old campaign kept her from racing at 4. She retired after a single unplaced effort at 5. She had beautiful action and an excellent disposition.
As a producer
Busher produced five named foals, of which one started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Busher was bred and owned by Colonel Edward R. Bradley's Idle Hour Stock Farm. Following her juvenile season, she was sold to movie mogul Louis B. Mayer for US$50,000. She was sold again in a dispersal of Mayer's stock in February 1947, going to Neil S. McCarthy for US$135,000 in what was really a buy-back for Mayer. Busher was later sold privately to Elizabeth Graham's Maine Chance Farm for a reported US$150,000. Busher was trained by Jimmy Smith at 2 and by George M. Odom at 3. Graceton Philpot was her trainer for her lone start at 5. Busher was being boarded at Spendthrift Farm at the time of her death.
Pedigree notes
Busher is inbred 3x4 to two-time American champion Sweep. She is a full sister to 1948 Arlington Futurity winner Mr. Busher and 1949 Schuylerville Stakes winner Striking, the 1941 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. Busher and her siblings are bred on the same cross of War Admiral to daughters of La Troienne that also produced major stakes winners Busanda and Searching.
Busher's dam Baby League is a full sister to stakes winner Biologist and a half sister to 1935 American champion 3-year-old filly Black Helen (by Black Toney), two-time American champion Bimelech (by Black Toney), Selima Stakes winners Big Hurry (by Black Toney) and Bee Ann Mac (by Blue Larkspur) and the noteworthy producers Big Event (by Blue Larkspur), Businesslike (by Blue Larkspur), Besieged (by Balladier), Belle Histoire (by Blue Larkspur) and Belle of Troy (by Blue Larkspur). Baby League's dam, La Troienne (by Teddy), is a full sister to Leonidas, a winner of the Lincolnshire Handicap. La Troienne is also a half sister to 1934 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) winner Adargatis (by Teddy's son Astérus), dam of 1944 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) winner Ardan and the high-class stakes winner Pardal (both by Pharis II).
Books and media
“Busher” is the sixth chapter in Women of the Year: Ten Fillies Who Achieved Horse Racing's Highest Honor, a Blood-Horse compilation published in 2004 by Eclipse Press. The book was later updated and re-issued in 2011 as Horse Racing Divas: From Azeri to Zenyatta, Twelve Fillies and Mares Who Achieved Horse Racing's Highest Honor.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Busher, Eddie Arcaro up, undated. Photo by Joel Clyne Meadors. From the Keeneland Library Meadors Collection; used by permission. Please contact the Keeneland Library with any questions regarding use or licensure of this photo.
Last updated: May 9, 2024
Race record
21 starts, 15 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$334,035
1944:
- Won Selima Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Laurel)
- Won Matron Stakes (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
- Won Adirondack Handicap (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
1945:
- Won Arlington Handicap (USA, 10FD, Washington Park)
- Won Santa Margarita Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Hollywood Derby (USA, 9FD, Hollywood)
- Won Washington Park Handicap (USA, 10FD, Washington Park; new track record 2:01-4/5)
- Won Cleopatra Stakes (USA, 8FD, Washington Park)
- Won San Vicente Handicap (USA, 8FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Santa Susana Stakes (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Vanity Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- Won Washington Park Special (match race with Durazna) (USA, 8FD, Washington Park)
- 2nd Santa Anita Derby (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Will Rogers Handicap (USA, 8FD, Hollywood)
- 3rd Beverly Handicap (USA, 9FD, Washington Park)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1964)
- American Horse of the Year (1945)
- American champion 2-year-old filly (1944)
- American champion 3-year-old filly (1945)
Assessments
Busher was rated #40 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005). She was second to Ruffian among the 26 fillies and mares on the list.
As an individual
A golden chestnut, Busher stood 16 hands. She was strongly made but not masculine, giving an appearance of perfect symmetry and quality. Racing historian and illustrator C. W. Anderson described her has having one of the most beautiful and intelligent heads ever seen on any Thoroughbred. Her weak point was her ankles, which were fired between her 2- and 3-year-old campaigns; according to Daily Racing Form writer Charles Hatton, she was also somewhat pigeon-toed in front. An ankle injury (also reported as a fractured cannon bone) at the end of her 3-year-old campaign kept her from racing at 4. She retired after a single unplaced effort at 5. She had beautiful action and an excellent disposition.
As a producer
Busher produced five named foals, of which one started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Miss Busher (1949, by Alibhai) never raced but is the second dam of stakes winners Gemini Six and Pilot Bird and the third dam of four stakes winners including 1980 San Antonio Stakes (USA-G1) winner Beau's Eagle and Grade 2 winner Play On, runner-up in the 1984 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1).Her more distant descendants include 2002 Santa Maria Handicap (USA-G1) winner Favorite Funtime, 2006 Carter Handicap (USA-G1) winner Bishop Court Hill, Grade 2 winner Man from Eldorado, and Grade/Group 3 winners Coalport, Midnight Stroll, Noble Beauty, Odds On, and Velha Maquina.
- Popularity (1950, by Alibhai) never raced but is the dam of stakes winners Bevy of Roses (by Bernborough), Top Charger (by Royal Charger) and Red Tulip (by Jet Pilot). She is the third dam of four stakes winners including Italian Group 2 winner Come On Sassa. Her more distant descendants include 1981 Mexican Horse of the Year Colosa.
- Jet Action (1951, by Jet Pilot) won six good stakes races including the 1955 Washington Park Handicap. He sired five stakes winners from 86 named foals.
- Bush Pilot (1952, by Jet Pilot) never raced produced stakes winner Needle and Ball (by Tim Tam).
Connections
Busher was bred and owned by Colonel Edward R. Bradley's Idle Hour Stock Farm. Following her juvenile season, she was sold to movie mogul Louis B. Mayer for US$50,000. She was sold again in a dispersal of Mayer's stock in February 1947, going to Neil S. McCarthy for US$135,000 in what was really a buy-back for Mayer. Busher was later sold privately to Elizabeth Graham's Maine Chance Farm for a reported US$150,000. Busher was trained by Jimmy Smith at 2 and by George M. Odom at 3. Graceton Philpot was her trainer for her lone start at 5. Busher was being boarded at Spendthrift Farm at the time of her death.
Pedigree notes
Busher is inbred 3x4 to two-time American champion Sweep. She is a full sister to 1948 Arlington Futurity winner Mr. Busher and 1949 Schuylerville Stakes winner Striking, the 1941 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. Busher and her siblings are bred on the same cross of War Admiral to daughters of La Troienne that also produced major stakes winners Busanda and Searching.
Busher's dam Baby League is a full sister to stakes winner Biologist and a half sister to 1935 American champion 3-year-old filly Black Helen (by Black Toney), two-time American champion Bimelech (by Black Toney), Selima Stakes winners Big Hurry (by Black Toney) and Bee Ann Mac (by Blue Larkspur) and the noteworthy producers Big Event (by Blue Larkspur), Businesslike (by Blue Larkspur), Besieged (by Balladier), Belle Histoire (by Blue Larkspur) and Belle of Troy (by Blue Larkspur). Baby League's dam, La Troienne (by Teddy), is a full sister to Leonidas, a winner of the Lincolnshire Handicap. La Troienne is also a half sister to 1934 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) winner Adargatis (by Teddy's son Astérus), dam of 1944 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) winner Ardan and the high-class stakes winner Pardal (both by Pharis II).
Books and media
“Busher” is the sixth chapter in Women of the Year: Ten Fillies Who Achieved Horse Racing's Highest Honor, a Blood-Horse compilation published in 2004 by Eclipse Press. The book was later updated and re-issued in 2011 as Horse Racing Divas: From Azeri to Zenyatta, Twelve Fillies and Mares Who Achieved Horse Racing's Highest Honor.
Fun facts
- Busher was the world's leading money-winning female Thoroughbred at the time of her retirement. Her earnings of US$273,735 in 1945 were also a single-season record for a filly or mare.
- In a 1955 poll of the American Trainers Association sponsored by Delaware Park, Busher was named the sixth-best filly or mare to race in North America up to that time.
- The Busher Stakes was inaugurated in 1978. It is a listed stakes at Aqueduct for 3-year-old fillies.
Photo credit
Busher, Eddie Arcaro up, undated. Photo by Joel Clyne Meadors. From the Keeneland Library Meadors Collection; used by permission. Please contact the Keeneland Library with any questions regarding use or licensure of this photo.
Last updated: May 9, 2024