When Jack Diamond claimed Alta Mira for $1,200 at Exhibition Park on August 31st, 1951, he was unknowingly investing in an equine annuity.

Although she did not distinguish herself on the racetrack the daughter of Don Bingo - Music hall, bred in California at Bing Crosby's Binglin Stock farm, had an amazing career as a broodmare, producing six stakes winners.

She specialized in throwing B.C. Derby winners - Donn Baykey (by Donworth) in 1956, the filly Ky. Music (Ky. Lea) in 1959 and Collin Baykey (Ky. Lea) in 1960.

Ky Miracle (Ky Lea) suffered a stunning upset in the 1963 Derby when he could not run down Feasible, who went wire to wire on a sloppy track. Ky. Miracle did score easily in the Ascot Sophmore Stakes and latere captured the Premier's Championship. Son of Donn (Donnworth) also won the Ascot Sophmore in 1961.

Alta Mira's last stakes winner was her best. Realizing she deserved a chance to be mated with a top sire, Diamond sent Alta Mira to California to be bred to Poona II. The result was Craig D. whose biggest victory came in the 1966 B.C. Premier's Championship, although he came close with top company at Santa Anita. He also established a track record of 1:15.4 for 6 1/2 furlongs at Exhibition Park, which stood for two years when it was eclipsed by Count the Green's 1:15.3.

Craig D. later became a good sire in his own right. His best runner was Battling Craig, hero of the 1974 Longacres Derby.

In addition, Ky Mira (by Ky Lea) set a Canadian record for two miles at Exhibition Park. The filly was clocked in 3:26.2 over a sloppy surface as a three-year-old in 1958.

One of her least distinguished offspring, Ky. Edna, became the most distinguished producer in the family. Bred to Good Old Mort, she threw Ky. Alta, a winner of 14 races and $314,000, and later a sire.