Delta Colleen not only won more stakes races than any other horse in the history of Exhibition park, she tied a ribbon around every one of them.

Combining style with substance she recorded 18 stakes victories, nearly all of them with a devastating finishing kick that carried her from last place and stamped her as the most popular performer at the east end cavalry grounds since George Royal 30 years ago.

The little daughter of Golden Reserve and Great poise pulled off her first added money score in the Pink Lady, a 1 1/16 mile journey for two-year-old fillies, on October 11th, 1987.

She won her last rthe Ballerina on October 18th, 1992, and the $51,020 winner's share pushed her earnings to $810,798, a record for a B.C.-bred Thoroughbred that still stands.

Throw in B.C.-bred bonuses and she made well over $1 million, which was a handsome investment for Louisiana oilman John Franks who had purchased her as a yearling from the estate of Cline Hoggard. Franks never saw her run except on videotape, and viewed her in the flesh for the first time when he came to Vancouver for a special retirement ceremony. Leading trainer harold Barroby trained Delta Colleen and kept her owner informed with videos and photos of her wins.

Jockey Chris Loseth, who rode Delta Colleen in all but three of her stakes victories, said the mare was the architect of her own peculiar running style. She seemed to relish following the pack and it soon grew into a way of life.

"She has to start her move on her own," said Loseth. "I urge her on a little bit, but if I hit her before she wants to start running she will sulk. Once she starts to run, then I can get after her."

She could make her patented move at any distance, winning six times at 6 1/2 furlongs, eight times at 1 1/16 miles and four times at 1 1/8.

Three races stand out - the $100,000 Belle Roberts at Longacres as a three-year-old when she beat older fillies and mares, the 1989 Ballerina in which she outfinished Belle Roberts winner Valerie's Delights, and her final victory in the 1992 Ballerina.

Like Ted Williams hitting a home run in his last at-bat and Johnny Longden winning on his last mount, she seemed to know that something special was required in her farewell appearance. She stayed closer to the pace, pushed the rail, and went out like a champion.

"The racing Gods were with us today," said Loseth after running down Longacres invader Cadette Stevens, "I just put her on the rail and she didn't get off the whole way. It was her kind of track (rated good)."

She is now in Kentucky and has been bred to Frank's stallion Lively One, a son of Halo who earned 1.5 million.