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In the world of horse racing, world champions come and grace the arena, but rarely go or are forgotten. The best of the best retire, but a few carry on their iconic names by passing on their legacies to the next generation of champions.

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One such Thoroughbred Filly, born on February 24, 2020, recently bid adieu to the exhilarating world of horse racing after a spectacular 2023 season. After a show-stopping 2023 season, this formidable three-year-old Irish-bred bay filly is set to embark on a new journey.

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Irish Thoroughbred filly bids farewell to the horse racing world

In a recent post on X by an account called Dawn Leadon-Bolger, Warm Heart received a heartfelt farewell message. Sired by the legendary Galileo (IRE) and out of Dam Sea Siren (AUS), herself sired by Fastnet Rock (AUS), Warm Heart bids adieu to her beloved arena. The caption read, “Happy retirement to this wonderful lady, Warm Heart. What a season she had! I cannot wait for the baby hearts.”

Warm Heart, the Irish-bred Thoroughbred horse, has made waves with the iconic trainer Aidan P. O’Brien and is owned by Mrs. J. Magnier, M. Tabor, D. Smith, and Westerberg. The daughter of Galileo is now set to transition into a new role as a broodmare, marking a significant chapter in her life. This major announcement came just days after Warm Heart enjoyed her final run at the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin.

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Warm Heart’s final season

In her latest horse racing appearance at Sha Tin on December 10, 2023, Warm Heart competed in the prestigious Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Vase over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs. Although Warm Heart was favored to win with her odds being 42/10, she finished in 3rd place out of 8 horses and was 3¼ lengths behind the winner, Junko.

She demonstrated her resilience by facing tough competition and showing she could handle different ground conditions. Before the race, Aidan O’Brien shared with Hong Long Racing, “It could [be her last]. She would suit Justify, so there’s a good chance she could go to him after.” Warm Heart ended her racing career with nine starts, five firsts, two firsts, and one third, and with $1,663,409 in earnings as of 2023.

Read more: “I Really Enjoyed”: Popular Jockey Sends Out Candid Confession After Horse Racing Victory on Foreign Grounds

As she embarks on a new journey, fans of the horse racing world await the many “baby hearts” she will be a dam to and hope her horse racing legacy will endure and thrive through the next generation as she leaves an imprint on the sport.

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Christaline Meyers

1,486 Articles

Christaline Meyers is a senior Olympics writer at EssentiallySports who specializes in gymnastics and alpine skiing. Christaline is one of the acclaimed authorities in the coverage of 6x All-Around champion, Simone Biles. She has written extensively, covering every detail of Biles’s life stories as well as providing her perspective on Simone Biles’ Yurchenko Double Pike controversy. Beyond the gymnastics realm, Christaline also takes an avid interest in the development of the on-field rivalry between Mikaela Shiffrin and Petra Vlhova in the snow-covered alps. When away from the ES Desk, she can be found meditating and listening to music.

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Purva Jain

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