Churchill Downs will honor 2024 Kentucky Oaks winner Thorpedo Anna on Sunday before she retires to Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Thorpedo Anna, the reigning Horse of the Year whose speed and grit defined two racing seasons, will take one last walk at Churchill Downs on Sunday, Oct. 26, before beginning a new chapter as a broodmare in Lexington.

The 4-year-old filly will be honored during Race 6 at Churchill Downs, a farewell ceremony marking the end of her standout career before she ships to Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa.

The 4-year-old ends her three-season career with 12 wins in 16 starts and more than $5.4 million in earnings. She’ll walk over with the field for Race 6 at about 3 p.m. and stay in the paddock for roughly 20 minutes while the race runs.

Trainer Kenny McPeek announced her retirement Oct. 15, closing the book on a run that included seven Grade 1 victories — among them the Kentucky Oaks and Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

“I’ve used this analogy a lot in my career: horses are like surfing, and you’re trying to catch a big wave. This filly has been the most amazing wave I’ve ever been on,” McPeek said.

Thorpedo Anna, a daughter of Fast Anna purchased for $40,000 as a yearling, retires as a 10-time graded stakes winner for owners Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings of John G. Sikura, breeder Judy Hicks, Mark Edwards, and Sherri McPeek’s Magdalena Racing.

A 20% ownership share of the filly is set to be auctioned Oct. 29 at Keeneland’s Championship Sale at Del Mar.

Her 3-year-old campaign was among the best in recent memory, with victories in the Fantasy, Kentucky Oaks, Acorn, Coaching Club American Oaks, Cotillion, and Breeders’ Cup Distaff. She also came within a head of winning the Travers, finishing just behind Fierceness, the 2023 Champion Two-Year-Old Male, with eventual 2024 Champion Three-Year-Old Male Sierra Leone another 1¾ lengths back in third.

This year, Thorpedo Anna added wins in the Azeri, Apple Blossom, Fleur de Lis, and Personal Ensign before a fourth-place finish in the Spinster at Keeneland on Oct. 5, her final start.

Sunday’s 11-race card marks opening day of Churchill Downs’ 26-day fall meet, which begins at 1 p.m. The program is headlined by the $200,000 Street Sense and $200,000 Rags to Riches as part of the track’s 21st annual “Stars of Tomorrow I” day for 2-year-olds.